French President Emmanuel Macron was left awkwardly hanging today after his wife, Brigitte, blatantly ignored his outstretched hand while disembarking their plane in West London.
The incident occurred as the French couple was greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales on behalf of King Charles III. Macron reached out to help his wife down the stairs, but she brushed him off and grabbed the handrail instead — leaving him to drop his hand and shuffle into an uncomfortable greeting with Princess Kate.
🚨🇫🇷📹 Drama Unfolding: Macron’s wife REJECTS his hand upon arrival in London
Weeks after shoving him in the face right before cameras… pic.twitter.com/zsErZfEhFh
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) July 8, 2025
“Slap or Squabble?” Round Two
This isn’t the first public embarrassment. In May, Brigitte shoved her husband’s face with both hands on the tarmac in Vietnam — a moment caught on camera that sparked headlines in France. Macron brushed it off as “horseplay,” but it was widely mocked, with Le Parisien asking: “Slap or squabble?”
Today, Brigitte was later seen scrolling through her phone in the car, ignoring her husband — fueling even more speculation about frosty relations between France’s First Couple.
Royals Roll Out the Red Carpet
Despite the Macron drama, the British royals put on a show:
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Prince William and Princess Kate welcomed the Macrons at RAF Northolt, then accompanied them to Windsor Castle.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted them on a red-carpeted dais with gun salutes and a carriage procession through Windsor.
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Kate wore vintage royal jewelry from Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth, and Camilla wore a striking emerald green outfit and diamond brooch from the late Queen’s collection.
The King appeared with a burst blood vessel in his eye, said to be unrelated to his cancer treatment.
Macron Faces Cold Reception at Home and Abroad
Macron’s visit comes amid soaring migrant chaos, deepening economic turmoil, and growing backlash over France’s inability to stop illegal boat crossings to Britain.
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Over 20,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel in just six months of 2025 — up 50% from last year.
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UK officials are fuming after video surfaced of French police slashing migrant boats, a tactic Britain says it supports.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitted that the cross-channel crisis won’t be solved “overnight” and refused to confirm whether a “one-in, one-out” migrant swap deal is being negotiated.
State Dinner, Soft Power & Ukraine War Talk
Later tonight, Macron and Brigitte will dine with King Charles at Windsor Castle, seated at a glittering 50-meter-long banquet table in St George’s Hall. The King is expected to stress the need for unity in tackling “threats without borders.”
Macron is also set to:
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Address UK Parliament tomorrow
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Meet with PM Sir Keir Starmer
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Join the Franco-British Summit on Thursday
The leaders will also dial in to speak with Zelensky, Meloni, and Merz on next steps for a possible ceasefire and peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
