After over 1 million people demonstrated in France over unpopular pension reforms, Charles and Camilla postponed their trip to Paris and Bordeaux, where they were scheduled to visit starting Sunday.
Violent protests break out in France ahead of King Charles’ visit
Paris is burning … Huge protests turned into fiery riots as more than a million people took to the streets across France on Thursday, voicing their fury at proposed pension reforms that would boost the retirement age from 62 to 64.
Protesters were not only angry at the changes to the pension system but even more so at the manner in which the bill was approved – by sidestepping a vote in France’s lower house, CNN reported.
According to an IFOP poll, 83% of young adults (18-24) and 78% of those aged over 35 said the manner in which the government passed the bill was “unjustified.”
Amid the violence, people set fires, launched smoke bombs, and damaged property. Protests occurred in Paris and at regional capitals. In the southwestern city of Bordeaux, where King Charles is set to visit, protesters set fire to the entrance of the city hall and clashed with police, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.
Unions called for new nationwide strikes and protests next week, coinciding with King Charles’ and Queen Camilla’s planned visit, NPR reported.
King Charles and Queen Camilla postpone their visit to France amid violent riots
On Friday, a request was made from President Emmanuel Macron for King Charles III and Queen Camilla to postpone their visit to France amid the ongoing violence in cities across the country, with some of the worst in both Paris and Bordeaux, where the state visit was due to begin on Sunday, BBC reported.
Buckingham Palace announced the decision to postpone the three-day visit citing the “situation in France.”
“Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found,” the statement added.
Royal visit to Germany remains scheduled as planned
After confirming that Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, would not be going to France, Buckingham Palace announced that the pair still planned to continue with their visit to Germany later in the week, People reported.
“The King and The Queen Consort’s State Visit to France has been postponed,” the Palace said. “Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found.”
