King Charles arrives in France today for a three-day official visit, with all eyes on the state dinner tonight at the historic Palace of Versailles, perhaps the most impressive and grand palace in the world.

According to information, for the dinner in honor of the British monarch and his wife, Camilla, the menu will include blue lobster and a selection of French and English cheeses.

Between cheese and pear the two leaders they will seek to strengthen their countries’ ties to turn the page after years of strained relations between London and Paris.

Charles’ visit to France is seen as an opportunity to mend relations between the two countries which have been damaged by Britain’s chaotic exit from the EU in 2020.

The king, who is fluent in French like his late mother, the Queen Elizabeth, seeks to follow in her footsteps and is likely to refer tonight to the great sympathy she had for France, according to officials.

“There are bonds of friendship and trust, the two of them (Carlos and Macron) have talked many times, especially in the last year”said an Elysee official.

Charles had hoped his first official visit as king would be to Francebut the planned one for March it was postponed due to the serious protest demonstrations taking place in France against the pension reform, which had embarrassed Macron.

The program of the visit: Visits, ceremonies and excursions

Britain’s king and his wife, Queen Camilla, will begin their visit with a ceremony at Arc de Triomphe with the air display teams of both countries flying.

Tomorrow, Thursday, Charles, Camilla, the French president and his wife Brigitte will visit Notre-Dame Cathedral to inspect restoration work following a major fire in 2019 that destroyed its roof.

Charles had written to Macron when part of the Cathedral burned downwhile the two share interests in climate and cultural heritage, according to royal advisers.

“I understand very well how truly special a place the cathedral holds in the hearts of your nation. But also for all of us outside of France it represents one of the greatest architectural achievements of Western civilization,” Charles wrote in his letter.

On Friday, Karolos and Camilla will go to Bordeauxthis town in southwestern France, where excursions are planned, including a visit to an organic vineyard.

Revival of the alliance

The warm words, visits and symbolic gestures follow a rather long period of tension on the occasion of the negotiations over Britain’s exit from the EU in 2020 and then clashes over issues ranging from immigration to the sale of submarines.

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss once said that the whether France is friend or foe remains to be seen, before he ends up calling it a friend. Her successor as prime minister, Rishi Sunak, visited France in March to launch what he described as a “revival of the alliance”.

However, Parisians remain wary of Charles’ visit to their country.

“He’s just the son, they’re already grown up, we don’t have a long history”says 88-year-old Mireille Mauve, while 15-year-old Alexis Aubert comments: “I think since Elizabeth died the royal family is not as important as it was. King Charles is not as important and symbolic as Elizabeth so I don’t think he has It really doesn’t matter if he comes or not.”