Glamour, diamonds and diplomacy: At the state banquet in the Élysée Palace, Thailand's Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana (48) drew all eyes on Monday evening. With an ensemble inspired by traditional Thai attire, she wore an opulent diamond necklace that many observers interpreted as a tribute to Queen Mother Sirikit. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X (73), and his wife were received by President Emmanuel Macron (48) and his wife Brigitte (73).

A state visit with symbolic significance

The visit carries historical weight. France and Thailand are commemorating the 170th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. For the Thai royal couple, it is the first state visit to France since that of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, who were received by General de Gaulle in 1960 - and at the same time the first state visit to Europe during the reign of Rama X. The monarch was accompanied by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who had already been in France for a working visit in May.

According to the Élysée Palace, Their Majesties first arrived at the Hôtel national des Invalides before experiencing a presentation of historical archival pieces on French-Thai history at the presidential palace and subsequently being invited to the state banquet. The return visit follows Macron's trip to Thailand in 2022. "Delighted to welcome Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana of Thailand to France for their first European state visit", Macron wrote on platform X.

The jewel around Suthida's neck had a grand appearance at the state banquet. Its similarity to the historic diamond rivière necklace that Queen Sirikit had worn on numerous state visits did not escape observers' notice, according to "Hola!" magazine. Originally, the necklace had been crafted for Queen Saovabha Phongsri; Sirikit revived it in the 1960s. The fact that Suthida chose this particular piece was interpreted by many as a deliberate tribute to Queen Mother Sirikit. According to "Hola!", Suthida possesses some of the most significant jewels of the Chakri dynasty - pieces once worn by Queen Sirikit and reserved for the most important state occasions.

The host himself provided another eye-catcher at the state banquet: Macron once again appeared on the steps of the Élysée with his now-famous aviator sunglasses - the same model that had gone viral at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Once again, "an eye problem" is said to be the reason for the sunglasses, reports "Le Parisien".

Princess Sirivannavari at her father's side

Princess Sirivannavari (39) provided a much-noticed moment of the evening. As the procession moved through the palace, she paused briefly, exchanged a smile with her father and posed for photographers - a small gesture that, according to "Hola!", broke with the otherwise strict protocol of the Thai court. The princess is considered relatively accessible to the public: Nearly 300,000 people follow her on Instagram, to whom she occasionally grants private glimpses into royal life.

The banquet does not mark the end of the trip. The royal couple will visit several famous Parisian landmarks before the state visit concludes in Toulouse with a tour of the Airbus facilities.