Kate Middleton and Prince William helped start the France state visit to the U.K. by welcoming President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, before meeting up with King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Britain and France have agreed to a pilot plan that will send some migrants who cross the English Channel on small boats back to France as the U.K. government struggles to tamp down criticism that it has lost control of the country’s borders.

Migrants have been crossing the English Channel in small boats to Dover as Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were in crunch talks over a deal on curbing their numbers.People wearing life jackets arrived in Kent and disembarked from a Border Force boat amid sunny weather on Thursday.

In honor of the France state visit to the U.K., Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed their guests in regal fashion. See the best photos.

LONDON -- The French Tricolor and Britain’s Union flag hang from the standards near Windsor Castle. The carriages are primed, the tiaras polished.

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are speaking to the media at the end of the French president's UK state visit. They are expected to announce a trial of a "one in, one out" deal to return 50 migrants who arrive by small boat to France a week.

The agreement between France and Britain for the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry was finalised and signed yesterday at the British Museum in a special ceremony attended by the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron of France.

The King has spoken of the deepening co-operation between the UK and France that will protect against “profound challenges” such as terrorism, organised crime and “irregular migration” across the English Channel.