At a grand state banquet held at Windsor Castle on Tuesday night, King Charles delivered a heartfelt tribute to his eldest son, Prince William — while noticeably excluding any mention of his estranged younger son, Prince Harry.

A Toast to William and Catherine

The 76-year-old monarch gave a formal speech during the evening’s festivities, hosted in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. The dinner, attended by over 150 guests, featured King Charles rising to deliver remarks that were both personal and humorous, as he acknowledged William and Catherine’s growing role within the royal family.

Charles specifically highlighted the Prince and Princess of Wales’ decision to settle in Windsor, tying the move back to the castle’s historic roots.

“The castle in which we meet this evening was begun by my ancestor — and your sometime countryman — William, Duke of Normandy, in the year 1070,” he noted. “It remains the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.”

With a warm smile, the king added, “So it is perhaps rather appropriate that my son, the Prince of Wales, who shares that earlier William’s name, has made Windsor his home with his family, like so many of our predecessors.”

A Celebration of Anglo-French Friendship

In addition to his family-focused message, Charles also used his speech to underscore the enduring alliance between the United Kingdom and France. The occasion marked a symbolic moment of diplomacy and shared heritage between the two nations.