Emmanuel Macron has addressed MPs and peers in the Houses of Parliament on the first afternoon of his three-day state visit.

In a wide-ranging speech, the French president told MPs the UK and France have a duty to tackle illegal migration “with humanity, solidarity and firmness”.

Macron and wife Brigitte earlier flew into RAF Northolt in west London, where they were met by the Prince and Princess of Wales, before they joined the King and Queen in Windsor town centre.

The Macrons will later join senior royals and some 160 guests at Windsor Castle for a state banquet.

It is the first state visit by a French president since 2008, and first by a European Union political leader since Brexit.

Macron described speaking in front of both Houses as a “great honour”, and addressed a number of topics including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and issues such as trade and migration.

He praised the partnership between France and the UK over supporting Ukraine, saying “we will fight until the very last minute” for a ceasefire to negotiate “sustainable peace”.

Turning to the conflict in the Middle East, Macron called for “a ceasefire in Gaza, without any condition”, and added “working together” to recognise a Palestinian state is the “only path to peace”.

The French president also called for the UK, France and Europe to strengthen security by investing in technology and reduce “excessive dependence on China and the US”.

Following the speech, Macron went to Parliament Square to a lay a wreath at the statue of Winston Churchill along with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

A highlight of the trip will be the state banquet later at Windsor Castle, which will be attended by the Princess of Wales. She has been absent from the last couple of big ceremonial dinners, with the South Korean state visit in November 2023 the last she attended.

The showcase menu begins with a special cocktail called “l’entente”, which combines British gin with lemon curd and French pastis, decorated with French cornflowers and English roses.

For their dinner, chef Raymond Blanc has made a menu that starts with a selection of tender summer vegetables with sage, raw tomato and extra virgin olive oil dressing.

The main course is a supreme of Rhug Estate chicken with Norfolk asparagus and tarragon cream, with an iced blackcurrant-soaked sponge with elderflower jelly selected for dessert.

Following the dinner, the King will deliver a message about the “shared history and culture between our two peoples”.

The King will say the UK and France must stand united in the face of a “multitude of complex threats” and also warn of threats in defence, technology and climate change.

“For centuries our citizens have admired each other, amused each other, and imitated each other,” the King will say at the banquet, being held at Windsor Castle as Buckingham Palace is being renovated.

He will warn of current risks “emanating from multiple directions” and challenges that “know no borders” from which “no fortress can protect us”.

“Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world,” he will say.

Upon their arrival earlier on Tuesday, Macron and the King were seen chatting enthusiastically as they travelled to Windsor Castle in open-top carriages, accompanied by Household Cavalry.

Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron travelled behind them in a separate carriage.

Mrs Macron was seen blowing kisses to the crowd as the carriages swept through Windsor. The bands struck up the Marseillaise – the national anthem of France – as they passed the castle, with the procession moving at quite a pace.

There were cheers for Prince William and Catherine from crowds lining the streets.

Catherine, in a nod towards French fashion, was wearing a Christian Dior jacket. It was her first public appearance since speaking last week about the challenges in recovering after chemotherapy.

King Charles and Macron later carried out a ceremonial inspection of guards in red tunics and bearskins in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle, before heading inside for lunch.

As part of this diplomatic schmoozing, Macron and his wife were shown a display of French-themed items from the Royal Collection.

This included Queen Victoria’s journal entry from August 1855, when Victoria had become the first British monarch for 400 years to have visited Paris.

A state visit is a “soft power” opportunity to strengthen partnerships – and Macron’s visit seems set to reinforce links with the UK at a time of uncertainty about the US stance on issues such as military backing for Ukraine.

Sylvie Bermann, who was the French Ambassador to the UK from 2014 to 2017, described the small boats issue as difficult but said France was “making progress” on it.

Responding to criticism within the UK that the British government has given too much money to France to try to deter small boat crossings without seeing any results so far, Ms Bermann said: “The UK is paying because we [France] is doing the job for the UK… you can’t prevent all of them [small boats] but we are doing our best.”

Starmer and Macron are also expected to speak by phone to other allied nations who are looking to support any future peace deal in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Macron will see a horse that he gave to the late Queen Elizabeth II, to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The French president and his wife are also set to visit the tomb of the late Queen during their stay in Windsor.

The UK government has spoken of wanting to “reset” post-Brexit relations with European neighbours and Macron’s visit will be a public endorsement of the longstanding alliance with France.

Advances in science will be highlighted during the visit, with examples of artificial intelligence and innovative technology being shown to the French visitors at Imperial College London.

The King and Queen carried out a state visit to France in 2023, when he received a standing ovation for his speech to the French Senate.

He had given a strongly worded message of support for Ukraine after Russia’s “horrifying” full-scale invasion in 2022. The King had also highlighted the “existential challenge” of climate change.

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