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Boris Johnson will host the French president Emmanuel Macron in Downing Street next week following a virtual summit with Brussels to kickstart the deadlocked Brexit trade talks.
The prime minister is expected to meet Mr Macron on Thursday as the French premier travels to London to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s wartime appeal to the people of France to resist the German occupation.
Mr Macron will be hosted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House, before taking part in talks with Mr Johnson at No 10.
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Downing Street said Mr Macron would be exempt from the UK’s quarantine rules, as representatives from foreign countries undertaking business in the UK are not required to self isolate for two weeks.
The visit comes as the prime minister was expected to hold a virtual summit with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday to attempt to break the impasse in the trade negotiations.
A statement from Clarence House said: “The President of the French Republic will visit London on Thursday 18 June 2020 to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of General de Gaulle’s ‘Appel’ to the French population to resist the German occupation of France during WWII.
“On behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will formally receive President Emmanuel Macron at Clarence House with a Guard of Honour found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards accompanied by the Band of the Coldstream Guards.”
It added government guidelines on social distancing would be followed and part of the meeting would be staged in the open air.
It comes as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove formally declared on Friday that the UK will not request an extension to the transition period, leaving only six months to hammer out a complex trade agreement.
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Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
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Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage
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People celebrate in Parliament Square
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A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square
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Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally
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Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
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JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
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Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives
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Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
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People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag
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Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership
PA
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Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o’clock at night
AFP via Getty
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Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave
Getty
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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage
AFP/Getty
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People celebrate in Parliament Square
Reuters
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A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square
AP
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Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally
PA
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Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
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JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags
Reuters
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Getty
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
AFP via Getty
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Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives
Reuters
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Brexit supporters gather
AP
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Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
PA
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Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen
AFP via Getty
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AFP via Getty
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People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate
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Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day
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A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag
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AFP via Getty
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A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering
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A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
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An EU flag lies trampled in the mud
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The UK will leave the single market and customs union on 31 December when the transition period finishes, meaning seamless trade between with Europe will end.
If a free trade agreement with Brussels cannot be agreed, then the UK faces a damaging no-deal Brexit scenario – on top of the economic hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Gove also backtracked on plans to introduce full border checks with the EU when the transition period ends, instead saying Britain would phase in changes over six months to allow businesses hit by the virus to adjust.
