Hours after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a pint of Guinness in London, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Paris to begin their first official French tour.
Sadly, the couple’s two children – Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, one – have not joined their parents on the trip.
Upon arrival, the royal duo – who are scheduled to spend a brief two-days in the City of Lights – were greeted by French President Francois Hollande on the steps of the Elysee Palace, the president’s official residence.
Prince William, 34, was seen to happily engage in a bi-lateral chat with the French Leader as the group posed for photographs ahead of retiring into the Elysee for a short reception with the president.
Kate and Wills posed for pictures on the steps of the Elysee Palace, the president’s official residence.
The royal couple went into the Elysee for a short reception with the president.
The duo arrived by private jet instead of the Eurostar as was previously expected.
They have reportedly been welcomed warmly by the French people.
Kate looked stunning in a bespoke Catherine Walker designed emerald green coat – the same she had chosen to wear earlier in the day at the Irish Guards’ parade in London. The 35-year-old royal simply revamped the look by removing her hat which allowed her signature blowout to cascade elegantly around her shoulders.
The couple are visiting the city at the request of the British government in an attempt to solidify England’s ties with Europe in a post-Brexit climate. Britain’s ambassador to France, Lord Llewellyn, said he hoped the visit to Paris would “underline the very close ties” between the two nations.
He said: “This is a very exciting and special day. This is the first official visit by the royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Paris. This is a country they know well but their first visit is an important and significant moment.”
While the exact details of the royal visit are yet to be announced publicly for security reasons, it is understood that Kate and Wills will tonight attend a reception to mark the launch of “Les Voisins,” a celebration of U.K.-French ties.
The event will see the royals mix with French leaders from the arts, sports, fashion, business and volunteer worlds. It’s expected that French actress Audrey Tatou will be among the long list of a-listers in attendance as well as Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who lives in the city, and footballer Robert Pires.
Unsurprisingly, the duo, who have been blissfully married for six years, have also managed to pencil-in some time for themselves in the City of Love. On March 18, Wills and Kate have plans to attend the France v Wales rugby match at the Stade de France.
The trip abroad will mark the first official royal visit by the couple to Paris since the untimely death of William’s mother, Princess Diana.
Wills was just 15 and his brother Prince Harry only 12, when Princess Diana was tragically killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. She was just 36 years old.
Flying the flag for British fashion! Kate was snapped in a stunning black gown designed by Alexander McQueen as she made her way to the prestigious event, “Les Voisins.”
Kate matched the midi-length cocktail dress with a pair of point-toe pumps from Gianvitto Rossi and a new piece of statement jewellery, which featured large pearls.
Kate will rub shoulders with French actress Audrey Tatou and Dame Kristin Scott Thomas at tonight’s celebration.
Before arriving in Paris by private jet, Wills and Kate stepped out for the traditional annual March 17 Irish Guards Parade in London.
The Duchess of Cambridge accented her double-breasted coat with a an Irish Guard brooch for the occasion and hubby Wills – who attended the festivities as a colonel in the regiment – donned his dark military uniform.
During the parade, the Duchess was charged with presenting sprigs of shamrock to the Officers and Guardsmen of the regiment, a long-running tradition that began in 1901 by the order of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII.
Even their mascot, the Irish Wolfhound Domhnall, was presented with a sprig of shamrock which appeared to bring a smile to Kate’s face.
The royal couple then met with members of the regiment and their families before sitting in for the Guardsman’s lunch to share a pint of Guinness in celebration of the day’s festivities.
Kate looked stunning in the emerald green, double-breasted coat designed by Catherine Walker. It is a bespoke piece.
Presenting a shamrock sprig to the Irish Wolfhound Domhnall brought a smile to Kate’s face!
Kate and Wills looked fresh and happy ahead of their epic day of royal engagements.
It doesn’t look as if Guinness is usually stocked in the royal fridge!
It is a busy time of year for the royal duo who will soon jet off to Poland and Germany at the request of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The exciting news was confirmed through a Kensington Palace spokesperson on March 3rd.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will make an official visit to Poland and Germany this July at the request of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office,” the statement began.
“Full details will be announced in due course,” it concluded.
This will mark Catherine’s first trip to Germany and the couple’s first time in Poland on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
Although the initial announcement hasn’t addressed whether they will be joined by their two young children, Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, 22 months, the pair travelled with their parents as they embarked on a royal tour of Canada last September.
WATCH: The family-of-four touch down in Canada.
