On the second day of his visit to France, King Charles III will be visiting the fire-damaged Notre-Dame cathedral.

In a speech to French lawmakers on Thursday, King Charles III expressed his admiration for the crucial partnership between France and the United Kingdom. He highlighted their ability to tackle global issues such as the conflict in Ukraine and climate change.

During his state visit to France, Charles met with sports organizations in the northern suburbs of Paris on the second day. Additionally, he had plans to visit the fire-damaged Notre-Dame cathedral.

French lawmakers from both the upper and lower houses of parliament gathered at the Senate warmly welcomed the king, standing and applauding him for an extended period of time.

He stated that the alliance between the two countries is crucial in facing the world’s challenges together. The United Kingdom will continue to be one of France’s most trusted allies and closest friends.

He emphasized the significance of our determination and alliance in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He stated that we stand united in our unwavering commitment to ensure Ukraine’s victory and the preservation of our valued freedom.

Charles proposed transforming the Franco-British “Entente Cordiale,” which was a set of agreements in 1904 that resolved past conflicts and greatly enhanced relations, into an “entente for sustainability” to better address the urgent global climate and biodiversity crisis.

“He stated that there is no challenge that we cannot overcome, just as we have successfully done numerous times in the past.”

Charles and Queen Camilla subsequently traveled to Saint-Denis, located north of Paris, to engage with community sports organizations and notable figures, coinciding with France’s role as the host nation for the Rugby World Cup.

Saint-Denis, a multicultural, working-class suburb, will serve as a major venue in next year’s Olympics. It is also home to the basilica that houses the tombs of French kings.

On Wednesday, the journey of Charles and Camilla commenced with a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, followed by a state dinner held at the Palace of Versailles.

Charles will be visiting the Paris flower market on Thursday afternoon, which is named after his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. After that, he will meet up with Macron in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral to observe the ongoing renovation work. The goal is to reopen the monument by the end of next year, following the devastating fire it experienced in 2019.

“In Versailles, he expressed his anticipation of visiting the splendid cathedral to witness the revival of ancient crafts and their transmission to apprentices, who are contributing to the restoration of Notre-Dame to its previous splendor.”

Charles and Macron will be present at a gathering for British and French business leaders, where they will discuss the funding of projects related to climate and biodiversity.

The monarch’s journey will conclude on Friday as he makes a final visit to Bordeaux, a city in the southwest known for its significant British population.

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The story was contributed to by Jill Lawless, an AP Writer based in London.