on the Champs-Élysées, a commemoration “under the sign of Franco-British friendship”

A commemoration of November 11 “under the sign of Franco-British friendship”

This Monday, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron was accompanied by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to celebrate the 106^e anniversary of the Armistice of November 11, on the tomb of the unknown soldier, under the Arc de Triomphe. A ceremony under the sign of “Franco-British friendship”indicated the Élysée, as the 120 ends^e anniversary of the Entente Cordiale between France and the United Kingdom.

Before heading to Place de l'Etoile, the two leaders first met at the Élysée Palace to meet. Then the two leaders went directly to the Champs-Élysées. First to lay a wreath and participate in a minute of silence at the foot of the statue of Georges Clemenceau, near the Grand Palais. Then to join that of Winston Churchill, a few hundred meters away, where another wreath was laid and where the ringing of “The Last Post» sounded before another minute of silence. The British and French anthems “God Save the King” and the Marseillaise were also played.

Barnier, Lecornu, Dati and Sarkozy present

Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer then went to the tomb of the unknown soldier, under the Arc de Triomphe. An important symbol, since 80 years ago, General de Gaulle and Winston Churchill commemorated, for the first time since the Liberation of France, the Armistice in the same place.

The French President rekindled the Flame of the Nation alongside veterans and families of soldiers who died for France, after the ringing of the “Cease Fire” and a new laying of wreaths. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also laid a wreath. Prime Minister Michel Barnier, Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and former President Nicolas Sarkozy were also present at this meeting, Place de l'Etoile.