Mick Jagger and Elton John topped the star-studded guest list for the French state banquet hosted by Britain's King Charles at Windsor Castle.
The Rolling Stones' front man was joined by his fiancée Melanie Hamrick, while John was accompanied by his husband David Furnish for the opulent royal celebration.
John, who is known for hosting his own annual white-tie and tiara charity ball, was among the 160 guests who gathered at King Charles's royal white-tie affair in honour of French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.
John famously sang Candle In The Wind, rewritten as Goodbye England’s Rose, at the funeral of King Charles’s first wife Diana, Princess of Wales, and he has a close bond with Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex – Charles’s youngest son with whom he has a troubled relationship.
Other notable invitees who turned out for the banquet with King Charles, his wife Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were actress Kristin Scott Thomas, former England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain, authors Joanne Harris and Sebastian Faulks, sculptor Antony Gormley and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer.
King Charles was seated between Mr Macron and French culture minister Rachida Dati, while Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales – attending her first state banquet in nearly two years – was on the other side of the French president and also next to art historian Christophe Leribault, chairman of the Musee D’Orsay.
Queen Camilla was on the other side of the table, between Mrs Macron and French armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu.
On the other side of first lady Brigitte was Britain's heir to the throne Prince William.
Jagger was seated between Scott Thomas and Alice Rufo, director general for international relations and strategy of the French ministry for the armed forces.
John, who has severe vision issues after contracting an eye infection, was seated next to his husband, rather than apart which is usually the custom for couples at royal banquets.
Also making an appearance was First Dates’ Fred Sirieix, as well as the French singer Mika.
Source: Press Association
