LONDON

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Friday arrived in southwestern French city of Bordeaux on the final day of their three-day visit.

To celebrate military ties between the two countries, the royal couple joined a reception onboard the Royal Navy frigate, HMS Iron Duke.

"The King inspected the front rank of the Ship’s impressive Ceremonial Guard and Colour Guard," the royal family said in a statement.

They also visited Bordeaux's City Hall, as Bordeaux and Bristol have been twinned since 1947, the first UK-France city twinning of its kind.

Charles and Camilla were hosted by Pierre Hurmic, the mayor of Bordeaux, in celebration of the "longstanding relationship of the UK with this city."

The trip, first since Charles' accession, was originally scheduled for March, but was postponed because of protests concerning pension reforms introduced by President Emmanuel Macron's government.

The royal couple earlier spent two days in Paris. They were hosted by Macron and his wife Brigitte for a state bouquet. The king also addressed the French parliament.

Charles ascended to the throne Sept. 8, 2022, following the death of his long-serving mother.

On May 6, in the country's first coronation service in nearly 70 years, he was crowned along with Camilla at Westminster Abbey.