King Charles III is hosted for a state dinner as the Versailles Palace commemorates its 400th anniversary.

France is warmly welcoming King Charles III for his official visit to the renowned Palace of Versailles, a historic monument marking its 400th anniversary.

Starting on Wednesday, Charles and Queen Camilla will embark on a three-day journey to Paris and Bordeaux. The highlight of their trip will be a lavish dinner at Versailles, where they will be joined by more than 150 guests in the magnificent Hall of Mirrors.

The Palace of Versailles has recently opened a gallery to the public that tells the story of its history. This includes its humble beginnings as a hunting lodge in 1623, as well as significant diplomatic events from the previous century, including visits from Charles’ ancestors.

According to Macron’s office, the dinner on Wednesday is reminiscent of Queen Elizabeth II’s state visit in 1972, during which President Georges Pompidou welcomed her at the Palace. Macron’s office stated that King Charles expressed interest in emulating his mother’s experience.

Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit to the palace in 1958, as well as a decade earlier before she ascended to the throne.

Catherine Pégard, the president of the Palace of Versailles, expressed admiration for the ongoing narrative of the palace. This narrative encompasses various visitors, ranging from French schoolchildren who visit Versailles with their classmates to the King of England himself, as well as tourists from Asia who may be less acquainted with its history.

“She stated to the Associated Press that we have a narrative to share with every individual.”

The Hall of Mirrors, typically bustling with tourists taking photos, will be temporarily closed on Wednesday to make arrangements for the royal banquet. The French presidency has not disclosed any specifics about the menu, but they have stated that it will be a chance to highlight France’s cultural and culinary prowess.

Charles’ visit will make one more date in the Palace’s long history starting from King Louis XIII, to the French revolution and all the way to modern times that is being presented on its ground floor into the newly opened Gallery of the History of the Palace.

The gallery has 11 rooms, each thematic and largely chronological, presenting over 120 works aimed at providing visitors from across the world an immediate understanding of the complex history of the palace.

It brings together recently acquired works alongside paintings and art pieces that for many years had gone unseen as they’d been in reserve and others that are now repositioned and better enhanced.

The exhibit showcases several masterpieces, according to Laurent Salomé, the director of the National Museum of the Palace of Versailles and Trianon.

“We aimed to provide visitors with an initial delightful experience. This is particularly important as they have traveled extensively and have longed to visit Versailles for quite some time. Our objective was to avoid offering them a dull lecture at the beginning of their tour,” he explained.

Some pieces of work come from the original version of the palace and its gardens under its great builder Louis XIV, who decided to expand his father’s hunting lodge.

Salomé emphasized that the historical achievement was not solely attributed to one ruler but rather a collective effort of numerous talented artists. The advantage of an absolute monarchy, she noted, is the ability to bring together the most exceptional individuals in one location.

Today, there are 2,300 rooms within the Palace, covering an area of 63,154 square meters (679,784 square feet).

The historical gallery also offers an opportunity to uncover interesting stories about the life of the Palace. For example, there are panels in the “Chinese chamber” of Queen Marie Leszczynska, the wife of Louis XV, that she personally painted to some extent.

In the final chambers, guests have the opportunity to view the renowned table where the Treaty of Versailles, which officially brought an end to World War I in 1919, was signed. Additionally, there are displays of photographs and video records showcasing the esteemed heads of states and royalties who were recognized at the Palace throughout the 20th century.

Salomé stated that the intention is to demonstrate the continuous evolution of the Chateau de Versailles over time, highlighting its enduring vitality from its inception until now.