Rouge, white and blue! Red Arrows and Patrouille de France take to the skies
Rouge, white and blue! Red Arrows and Patrouille de France turn the sky the colour of the French and British flags in spectacular joint flypast for Emmanuel Macron’s UK visit on 80th anniversary of De Gaulle’s call to resist the Nazis in World War II
- Red, white and blue smoke was streaked across the horizon of Paris this morning by the Red Arrows and their French equivalent, the Patrouille de France, ahead of their journey over the English Channel this afternoon
- The aerobatics squadrons will flyover Buckingham Palace at 5pm when Prince Charles welcomes Macron to commemorate Charles de Gaulle’s famous appeal to resist Nazi occupation during World War II
- De Gaulle’s rallying cry to the people of France on June 18, 1940 is thought to mark the foundation of French resistance to the German occupation and is comparable to Winston Churchill’s ‘We shall fight on the beaches’
- Behind the scenes tense talks between Macron and Boris Johnson are anticipated over Brexit and Covid-19
By Peter Allen In Paris and Tom Pyman and Ross Ibbetson For Mailonline and Afp
Published: 12:06 EDT, 18 June 2020 | Updated: 14:55 EDT, 18 June 2020
The Red Arrows and their French equivalent, the Patrouille de France, took to the skies this afternoon to perform a spectacular flyover over London ahead of Emmanuel Macron‘s visit to the UK.
Red, white and blue smoke streaked above capital landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Nelson’s Column and the statue of Winston Churchill – recently ‘unboxed’ having been protected during anti-racism protests – after a similar display in Paris, as the French President payed his respects at the Mont-Valerien, the country’s most sacred memorial to those who died in WWII.
The aerobatics squadrons flew over Buckingham Palace at 5pm as Prince Charles welcomed Mr Macron to commemorate his predecessor General de Gaulle’s famous speech which was broadcast by the BBC from London on June 18, 1940.
In total, 18 aircraft are believed to have taken part in the flyover, nine Red Arrows and nine PAF, and left RAF Brize Norton at 4.40pm before swooping through Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Surrey before getting into west London. They then flew north into Essex, through Norfolk and Lincolnshire before landing at RAF Scampton at 5.27pm.
The Red Arrows and their French counterparts, La Patrouille de France fly over Buckingham Palace and central London to mark 80 years since Charles De Gaulle’s historic speech to Occupied France
The Red Arrows fly over Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in London
The Red Arrows and their French equivalent, La Patrouille de France fly over London and the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square
The flyover was keenly watched by both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron, surrounded by photographers
The Red Arrows and Patrouille de France fly over the Mall in London today in a joint flypast for Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the UK
The Red Arrows and La Patrouille de France perform a flypast over 10 Downing Street during a meeting of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron
The skies turned red, white and blue this afternoon, the colour of both the Great Britain and France flags ahead of Emmanuel Macron’s visit
In total, 18 aircraft are believed to have taken part in the flyover, nine Red Arrows and nine PAF, and left RAF Brize Norton at 4.40pm before swooping through Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Surrey before getting into west London
The aerobatics squadrons flew over Buckingham Palace at 5pm as Prince Charles welcomes Mr Macron to commemorate his predecessor General de Gaulle’s famous speech which was broadcast by the BBC from London on June 18, 1940
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, and the French Air Force Aerobatic Team, La Patrouille de France, perform a fly-past over Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column
The Red Arrows and Patrouille de France fly over the Mall in London today in a joint flypast for Emmanuel Macrons visit to the UK
The Red Arrows and their French equivalent, the Patrouille de France turn the sky the colour of the French and British flags in spectacular joint flypast
The spectacular flypast soars over the top of the Winston Churchill statue which had previously been boxed up prior to Mr Macron’s arrival
The spectacular flypast soars over the top of Buckingham Palace before heading on to other areas of the country this evening
The Red Arrows and their French equivalent, La Patrouille de France fly over the statue of Admiral Nelson in Trafalgar Square
Red, white and blue dominated the London skies this afternoon, referencing the colours on both nations’ respective flags
The flyover formed a French flag over the London skyline this afternoon to coincide with Mr Macron’s visit to the country
The flyover marked a visit to commemorate the 80th anniversary of former French president Charles de Gaulle’s appeal to French people to resist the Nazi occupation during World War I
Either side of the event, Mr Macron is holding tense behind-the-scenes talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Brexit and the coronavirus crisis
Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square was surrounded by red, white and blue colours this afternoon as the flypast dominated the skies
The Red Arrows and Patrouille de France fly past Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon to mark the occasion
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, left, watch as The Red Arrows and La Patrouille de France perform a flypast
The two nation’s leaders watch on and Mr Johnson points to the sky during the spectacular flyover in London this afternoon
The London skyline is dominated by blue, white and red, the colours of the French flag, during today’s spectacular flypast
The remaining effect of the flypast lingers in the London sky behind a jubilant Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson today
The aircraft line up in formation before the colourful display over many of the capital’s most famous landmarks this afternoon
French Alpha jets of the Patrouille de France and the UK Royal red arrows aerobatic team fly past the clouds above London
The aircraft line up in an arrow formation during the spectacular flypast in the English capital earlier this evening
The Red Arrows and their French equivalent, the Patrouille de France , swoop past the Eiffel Tower today
Alpha jets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France and the Royal Air Force Red Arrows perform a flypast over the Ecole Militaire to celebrate the 80th anniversary of wartime leader’s appeal to the French people to resist the Nazi occupation, broadcast from London, in Paris France
French President Emmanuel Macron reviews a military honour guard during the traditional annual ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s appeal to the French people to resist the Nazi occupation during the World War II, at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
The Red Arrows and the Patrouille de France performs during the traditional annual ceremony at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
Red, white and blue smoke was streaked across the horizon of the French capital this morning ahead of their journey over the English Channel this afternoon
Broadcast in French on the BBC, de Gaulle told his countrymen: ‘The generals who, for many years, have been at the head of the French armies, have formed a government. This government, claiming the defeat of our armies, has made contact with the enemy to halt the fighting.’
When did the Red Arrows and Patrouille de France fly over Britain today?
– 4.40pm: Departure from RAF Brize Norton
· 4.42pm: South east of Faringdon
· 4.43pm: South west of Wantage
· 4.45pm: South of Wooton Bassett
· 4.47pm: West of Pewsey
· 4.50pm: North west of Newbury
· 4.51pm: South west of Kingsclere
· 4.54 pm: West of Arborfield Garrison
· 4.56pm: Fly past Bagshot
· 4.57pm: Weybridge
· 4.58pm: Richmond Park
· 5.00pm: Fly past Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace
· 5.07pm: South west of Colchester
· 5.11pm: Framsden
· 5.13pm: East of East Harling
· 5.17pm: West of Whissonsett
· 5.22pm: East of Skegness
· 5.27pm: Arrival at RAF Scampton
General de Gaulle’s (‘L’appel’) marks the foundation of French resistance to the Germans and its significance is comparable to Winston Churchill’s ‘We shall fight on the beaches.’
After his speech De Daulle led his free forces from the British capital and Mr Macron will decorate the city with the Legion of Honour – France’s highest order of merit.
Macron’s poignant day in Paris and London to mark the 80th anniversary of de Gaulle’s l’appel
This morning Mr Macron was at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris.
He was joined by French dignitaries including former president Nicolas Sarkozy to watch the Red Arrows and their French counterparts flying overhead.
Before heading to London, Mr Macron met with Hubert Germain, 99, one of the four surviving Resistance heroes.
‘Our country is proud of your courage and it still inspires us. We will make sure every young person knows what they owe you,’ he told the veteran.
After arriving in Britain by air with a scaled-down delegation, Mr Macron will meet heir to the throne Prince Charles, with both set to pay their respects to de Gaulle and make speeches.
Macron will award the Legion of Honour to London, making it the seventh city to be decorated with France’s highest order of merit.
Despite the honour of Mr Macron’s visit to Buckingham Palace, an Élysée Palace source said the pomp would be accompanied by tense behind-the-scenes discussions with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Thorny issues including Brexit and the muddled handling of the Coronavirus pandemic will dominate talks after Mr Macron praises the former ‘Capital of Free France’.
After refusing to support an armistice with the Nazis and facing imminent arrest, de Gaulle fled to London – arriving the day before he made his famous speech.
Broadcast in French on the BBC, de Gaulle told his countrymen: ‘The generals who, for many years, have been at the head of the French armies, have formed a government. This government, claiming the defeat of our armies, has made contact with the enemy to halt the fighting.’
The future president of France described how the country had been overwhelmed by Germany’s blitzkrieg tactics and its seemingly ‘infinite’ supply of tanks and fighter planes.
But he said: ‘Has the last word been said? Must all hope disappear? Is defeat definitive? No! Believe me, I am speaking to you with a full understanding of the facts and I tell you that nothing is lost for France.’
Listing France’s supporters, he said: ‘She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast empire behind her, she can form an alliance with the British Empire which holds the seas and continues the fight.
‘She can, like England, call upon without limit the immense industry of the United States.’
He continued: ‘This war is a world war. All the mistakes, all the delays, all the suffering do not prevent the fact there are, in the universe, all the means to one day crush our enemies.
‘Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must never be extinguished and it will never be extinguished.’
Despite reaching only a small French audience at the time, the speech is considered one of the most important in all of France’s history and a seminal moment in the Second World War.
Its significance is comparable to Sir Winston Churchill’s ‘We shall fight on the beaches’ speech delivered earlier that same month.
As well as meeting with Prince Charles, Mr Macron is anticipated to hold tense behind-the-scenes talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Brexit and the coronavirus crisis.
Mr Johnson has announced honorary British MBE awards to four surviving French resistance fighters – one aged 100 and three in their late 90s.
‘The struggles we face today are different to those we confronted together 80 years ago,’ Johnson said.
‘But I have no doubt that – working side by side – the UK and France will continue to rise to every new challenge and seize every opportunity that lies ahead.’
Before heading to Britain, Macron met in Paris with Hubert Germain, 99, one of the four surviving Resistance heroes.
‘Our country is proud of your courage and it still inspires us. We will make sure every young person knows what they owe you,’ he told the veteran.
After arriving in Britain by air with a scaled-down delegation, Macron met heir to the throne Prince Charles in London, with both paying their respects to de Gaulle and making speeches.
A statue of Churchill that was controversially boxed up after anti-racism protests was uncovered for Macron’s visit.
Macron awarded the Legion of Honour to London, making it the seventh city to be decorated with France’s highest order of merit.
He then headed to Downing Street for the talks with Johnson, himself an avowed fan and biographer of Churchill, who allowed de Gaulle to broadcast from the BBC.
French dignitaries and cadets of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr watch at Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, as the jets flyover
French President Emmanuel Macron leaves the crypt of the Memorial to Fighting France following the traditional annual ceremony at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
Cadets of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr stand in line at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (L) review a military honour guard during the traditional annual ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s appeal to the French people to resist the Nazi occupation during the World War II, at the Mont-Valerien
French President Emmanuel Macron (C), French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (4-L), French Defence Minister Florence Parly (3-L) and others review a military honour guard during the traditional annual ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s appeal to the French people to resist the Nazi occupation during the World War II, at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
General Charles de Gaulle’s famous appeal to his countrymen: L’appel
Emmanuel Macron’s visit to London marks 80 years since General Charles de Gaulle gave his famous speech to his countrymen to resist the German occupation.
Broadcast London by the BBC, it is thought to mark the foundation of French resistance and its fame is comparable to Winston Churchill’s ‘We shall fight on the beaches.’
De Gaulle’s appeal, June 18, 1940:
The leaders who, for many years, have been at the head of the French armies have formed a government. This government, alleging the defeat of our armies, has made contact with the enemy in order to stop the fighting.
It is true, we were, we are, overwhelmed by the mechanical, ground and air forces of the enemy. Infinitely more than their number, it is the tanks, the aeroplanes, the tactics of the Germans which are causing us to retreat. It was the tanks, the aeroplanes, the tactics of the Germans that surprised our leaders to the point of bringing them to where they are today.
But has the last word been said? Must hope disappear? Is defeat final? No!
Believe me, I who am speaking to you with full knowledge of the facts, and who tell you that nothing is lost for France. The same means that overcame us can bring us victory one day.
For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States.
This war is not limited to the unfortunate territory of our country. This war is not over as a result of the Battle of France. This war is a world war. All the mistakes, all the delays, all the suffering, do not alter the fact that there are, in the world, all the means necessary to crush our enemies one day.
Vanquished today by mechanical force, in the future we will be able to overcome by a superior mechanical force. The fate of the world depends on it.
I, General de Gaulle, currently in London, invite the officers and the French soldiers who are located in British territory or who might end up here, with their weapons or without their weapons, I invite the engineers and the specialised workers of the armament industries who are located in British territory or who might end up here, to put themselves in contact with me.
Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on the radio from London.
The day was given added poignancy by news of the death of British singer Vera Lynn, who famously who helped keep up morale during World War II. She was 103.
Macron, who displays de Gaulle’s war memoirs on his desk in his official photograph, is making much of 2020 as an anniversary year for the French resistance leader who would later become president of post-occupation France.
The general’s iconic stature and his defiant wartime spirit are being tapped into even more during the unprecedented challenges posed by the epidemic.
In a telling reflection of his status, the vandalisation of a de Gaulle bust in northern France this week was met with a torrent of outrage.
Despite the honour of Mr Macron’s visit to Buckingham Palace, an Élysée Palace source said the pomp would be accompanied by tense behind-the-scenes discussions with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Thorny issues including Brexit and the muddled handling of the Coronavirus pandemic will dominate talks after Mr Macron praises the former ‘Capital of Free France’.
‘We have plenty of reasons to blame the English at the moment, but that does not erase the role played during the war,’ said the presidential aide.
In a pointed dig at moves to remove statues such as one of Churchill from Westminster, the source added: ‘We are not rewriting history’.
It came as Mr Macron’s foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said Britain was still struggling to understand the implications of its decision to leave the EU.
In a hard-hitting interview in Le Croix, Mr Le Drian said: ‘When you are outside the Union, you do not enjoy the same advantages as when you are inside. You cannot have a foot in and a foot out.
‘You have to choose, and I am not sure that they have understood the full magnitude of their withdrawal.’
Mr Drian did not rule out the EU failing to reach a trade deal with Britain, which stops abiding by EU rules in January.
‘We cannot exclude the prospect of a No Deal but we want to avoid it,’ said Mr Le Drian.
‘The British are playing against the clock but that is not always the way to reach a good agreement,’ he added.
There was anger in Paris when the British imposed strict Coronavirus quarantine rules for those arriving from France, but Mr Macron and his presidential aides will not abide by them.
Mr Johnson ‘made it clear that they can be waived for those on diplomatic business,’ said the Élysée source.
Beyond Mr Johnson, Mr Macron will be meeting dignitaries including Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall today, but French first lady Brigitte Macron will stay in Paris.
‘She is undergoing an eye operation,’ said the source, who explained that Ms Macron, who at 67 is 25 years older than her husband, will be wearing tinted glasses and not travelling ‘for the next few weeks.’
Cadets of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr (L) and of the Garde Republicaine stand in line at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives to attend the traditional annual ceremony at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron (C), French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, French Defence Minister Florence Parly, French Junior Defence Minister Genevieve Darrieussecq and others review a military honour guard during the traditional annual ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s appeal to the French people to resist the Nazi occupation during the World War II, at the Mont-Valerien
French President Emmanuel Macron (C), French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe (4-L), French Defence Minister Florence Parly (3-L) and others review a military honour guard during the traditional annual ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s appeal to the French people to resist the Nazi occupation during the World War II, at the Mont-Valerien
The Patrouille de France and the Red Arrows perform during the traditional annual ceremony at the Mont-Valerien, a memorial for the French who fought against the Nazis and those who were killed by the occupying forces, in Suresnes, west of Paris
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and General Charles de Gaulle in WWII
