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4 months ago
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King Charles greeted more than 40 European leaders yesterday - and found an international bond in the agony and ecstasy of football.
While hosting a reception at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, the monarch shared a laugh and warm pat on the arm from Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and a very hands-on 'thank you' from French President, Emmanuel Macron.
As the King arrived in an electric Audi, he was greeted at the steps of the palace's Great Court by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The paid shared a hand shake before together walking the red carpet into the palace's Long Library.
President Macron was one of the first to greet the King and they gripped each other's elbows with the President saying 'thank you again for a lovely reception'.
King Charles was greeted on arrival by the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The pair looked deep in conversation as they headed to the Long Library together
In a second group, the King chatted to German chancellor Olaf Sholz, the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, and also Angela Rayner, the new Labour government's Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.
She spoke to the King about England's European Cup final defeat to Spain and Charles replied it was 'agonising' but praised Gareth Southgate.
He added: 'I feel so sorry for the manager, they always get the blame but in fact he actually did a brilliant job.'
In another group the King had a cheerful chat with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister and former basketball star Edi Rama - who turned up to the royal reception wearing ice-white trainers.
President Zelensky, wearing his trademark military-style fleece emblazoned with the golden trident tryzub, chatted happily to Polish PM Donald Tusk while he waited.
He shook the King's hand and they spoke briefly about the planned private face-to-face meeting which was to take place minutes after the reception in the Grand Cabinet Room.
Before Charles walked away after 30 seconds, Zelensky let out a laugh and gave his royal host a friendly pat on his left arm. He and the king also enjoyed a private audience together after the reception.
Other leaders included Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, Polish PM Donald Tusk, and President of the European Council Charles Michel.
King Charles can be seen full of laughter as he talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (right) and French president Emmanuel Macron (left)
King Charles meeting Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the summit
The Italian leader and King Charles were pictured laughing as they met with other world leaders
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with his hand on King Charles' arm as the pair greeted each other. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk was also present
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper were present.
Sir Keir Starmer spent time chatting to President Zelensky and appeared to give him two thumbs up.
The King later had a private meeting with Sir Keir in the First State Room, which acted as their weekly private audience.
It comes at the end of an extremely busy week for the King, who also undertook his first overnight work visit since his cancer diagnosis, travelling to the Channel Islands for two days. Despite his packed diary, he is still undergoing weekly cancer treatment.
He looked in high spirits as he was pictured laughing and mingling as he welcomed the approximately 50 world leaders present at the event.
The UK-hosted EPC is focusing on issues including Ukraine, energy security and migration.
The meeting was called to discuss pressing issues including Ukraine, immigration and energy security.
Sir Keir was also seen hugging and giggling with premiers earlier today as he mounted a charm offensive on European leaders as he urged them to help tackle the migrant boats crisis.
Unesco World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Winston Churchill and the library holds more than 10,000 books.
Opening discussions at the summit, Sir Keir underlined his desire for closer ties, insisting the UK was a 'friend and a partner ready to work with you' and 'not part of the European Union, but very much part of Europe'.
And he sent a stark message about the need for cooperation to tackle the flow of migration across the continent.
'It is now I think a crisis,' he said. 'As we speak, as we gather here, a criminal empire is at work in every country represented here today, profiting off human misery and desperation, prepared to send infants, babies, pregnant mothers, innocent people to their deaths.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky praised the UK's 'resolve' in supporting Ukraine as he arrived in the UK for the major gathering hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The Ukrainian President said on X before attending the meeting: 'The countries of the European area are gathering for the fourth time at the European Political Community Summit to discuss common issues and challenges. I have arrived in the UK to participate in the Summit, hold bilateral meetings with partners, and sign new security agreements.
'A separate program is scheduled for our relations with the United Kingdom.
'I will meet with His Majesty King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, government officials, and executives from defense companies.
'We will sign an intergovernmental agreement on support for the Ukrainian defense and industrial complex, discuss future defense cooperation, and expand our defense capabilities.
'Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, the UK has been one step ahead in its determination to support Ukraine. This is the kind of resolve we need to stop Russian terror.'
Ms Meloni seemed to have the giggles as the leaders chatted this morning
The meeting was held before the King arrived in time for the reception in the palace's Long Library.
The gathering at Blenheim Palace is more informal than many international summits.
The EPC was the brainchild of France's Emmanuel Macron and involves 20 non-EU nations including the UK as well as the 27-strong EU bloc.
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