King Hosts French State Banquet at Windsor with 160 Guests Including Jagger, Elton John

The King of the United Kingdom hosted a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, featuring a star-studded guest list including Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John. Both musicians, who have homes in France, attended alongside the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other notable figures such as actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, former England goalkeeper Mary Earps, authors Joanne Harris and Sebastian Faulks, sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with his wife. Sir Elton John, known for his annual charity ball and his close ties to the royal family, notably performed a tribute to the King's late first wife, Princess Diana, and maintains a strong bond with the Duke of Sussex, with whom the King has a strained relationship. Princess Kate attended her first state banquet in nearly two years, seated near President Macron and art historian Christophe Leribault, while King Charles was positioned between President Macron and French culture minister Rachida Dati. The event featured a menu curated by French chef Raymond Blanc in collaboration with the Royal Household, with French champagne and a special gin-infused cocktail served to guests. Seating arrangements highlighted the prominence of the attendees, reflecting a blend of cultural, political, and sporting figures celebrating the Franco-British relationship.