King Charles III appeared with a noticeably bloodshot right eye while welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron to Windsor Castle on 8 July, the opening day of Macron’s three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. Buckingham Palace said the discoloration was caused by a burst blood vessel that developed overnight and posed no threat to the monarch’s vision or overall health. Palace officials emphasised that the minor subconjunctival haemorrhage is unrelated to the 76-year-old king’s ongoing cancer treatment, first disclosed in 2024. Medical experts describe the condition as benign and typically self-resolving within one to two weeks. The visit is the first by a French head of state to Britain in 17 years and the first by any European leader since Brexit. After being met at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Macrons joined the king and Queen Camilla for a carriage procession through Windsor before a state banquet. Talks later in the week are expected to focus on immigration, defence co-operation and other bilateral issues.