HM the King becomes fifth Chakri monarch to receive France's highest honour

HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been conferred with the Grand-Croix de la Légion d'honneur (Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour) by French President Emmanuel Macron, becoming the fifth monarch of the Chakri dynasty to receive France’s highest order.

HM Queen Suthida has also been awarded the Ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit) by Macron during a state banquet held on June 29 at the Élysée Presidential Palace in Paris.

The state visit takes place on the occasion of the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and France, following last year's commemoration of the 340th anniversary of the first contact between the two countries.

HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, the King’s daughter, is accompanying the royal couple.

At the Élysée Palace, Their Majesties also attended a state banquet hosted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte.

Today, the royal couple will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which lies beneath the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile.

They will then visit Paris City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), where they will be welcomed by the Mayor of Paris and receive a briefing on the ‘Sustainable Paris’ concept.

Their Majesties will also travel by electric boat to observe urban development along the River Seine and receive a briefing on river conservation efforts.

They will also visit the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, to view the exhibition La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress, From Tradition to Modernity.

Organised under the patronage of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, the exhibition highlights the evolution of Royal Thai court attire and its representation on the global stage.

On the final day of the state visit, Their Majesties the King and Queen will travel to Toulouse, to visit Airbus, observe the company's operations and receive a briefing on the latest developments in aviation.