King Charles III paid tribute to Prince William at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, while not mentioning his younger son, Prince Harry. The speech, attended by 160 guests including French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, highlighted ongoing tensions within the royal family.
During the dinner in St. George’s Hall, Charles praised William for choosing Windsor as his family home, linking the decision to the castle’s origins with William, Duke of Normandy, in 1070. The King noted that Windsor is “the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world” and found it “rather appropriate” that his son, sharing the name with the earlier William, has made Windsor his home with his family.
The absence of any mention of Harry in the speech underscores the ongoing estrangement between him and the royal family. Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 alongside Meghan Markle and relocated to Montecito, California, has been embroiled in a prolonged dispute with his family. He recently told the BBC he seeks reconciliation with his father, though he claimed Charles has not communicated with him.
This banquet was the first at Windsor Castle in over ten years, with the last event of this scale occurring in April 2014, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted Irish President Michael D. Higgins for the first Irish state visit to the United Kingdom.
Princess Catherine attended the banquet for the first time since her cancer diagnosis, donning a dark red silk Givenchy gown by Sarah Burton along with the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. This event marked her first tiara appearance since December 2023, signaling her gradual return to public engagements after cancer treatment.
The guest list included figures like Sir Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger, actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Unlike typical Buckingham Palace events, guests were seated along both sides of a 164-foot-long mahogany table, rather than the usual horseshoe layout.
Charles was seated between Macron and French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, while Catherine was positioned on the other side of the French President. Queen Camilla was across from Charles, between Brigitte Macron and French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu, with William next to the French First Lady.
The meal, written in French as per tradition, was developed with chef Raymond Blanc. It began with summer vegetables from palace gardens, followed by Rhug Estate chicken with Norfolk asparagus and tarragon cream, and ended with an iced blackcurrant parfait. A cocktail named “L’entente” featured British gin, lemon curd, and French pastis, garnished with French cornflowers and English roses.
The wine selection included Château Haut-Brion 1996 and Grand Cru Burgundy, along with English sparkling wine from Domaine Evremond, produced by the French Champagne house Taittinger. Charles humorously remarked on the “English sparkling wine made by a French Champagne house” as something that would have been “scarcely believable” to their predecessors.
In his speech, Charles addressed important diplomatic topics, referring to France as “one of our strongest allies” and stressing the importance of collaboration against “complex threats” like terrorism, organized crime, and irregular migration. Macron responded by urging the UK, France, and European neighbors to lessen their “excessive dependence on China and the US.”
The three-day state visit was the first by a French President since 2008 and the first by a European Union leader since Brexit. The banquet followed a day of diplomatic activities, including a ceremonial procession through Windsor and Macron’s address to both Houses of Parliament.
William moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Great Park in 2022 with Catherine and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Their decision to relocate from Kensington Palace was influenced by their proximity to Lambrook School in Berkshire.
The banquet’s elaborate table setting took six days to prepare, featuring seasonal flowers and herbs from palace gardens. After-dinner drinks included Taylor’s 1977 Vintage Port, marking Macron’s birth year, and 1948 Grande Champagne Cognac from Frapin & Co, honoring Charles’ birth year.
