News about Louis XVI

Sebastian Garrido was visiting his dying grandfather when he says he experienced a 'time slip,' showing him a glimpse of his grandfather as a younger man

It was the scandal that rocked France and permanently damaged the reputation of Marie Antoinette (inset, and depicted by Kirsten Dunst in 2006 film). But did the so-called 'Affair of the Diamond Necklace' really bring down the queen consort and her husband, King Louis XVI (inset bottom, right portrayed by Jason Schwartzman), and trigger the French Revolution? That is the question explored in the fourth episode of new Daily Mail podcast Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things. Mail columnist and royal biographer Robert Hardman and his co-host, historian Kate Williams, delve into Marie-Antoinette's stunning extravagance and the chain of events that saw her lose her head at the guillotine in 1793. They reveal the scandalous sale of a necklace (left) - then the most expensive in the world - that the ailing King Louis XV had commissioned for his mistress. Marie Antoinette was inextricably caught up in the public outcry that followed, but Professor Williams and Mr Hardman reveal how all was not as it seemed.

OLIVER HOLT: I have seen many things that have filled me with wonder and joy during the seven summer Olympic Games that I have covered. I have seen the white sails of the Mistrals and the 470s and the Lasers skimming and whipping and dashing across the waters of Sydney Harbour under an azure sky in 2000.

Anyone popping their head into the headquarters of Macron's Renaissance party to test the pre-election mood would think he's about to go the way of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. That's because the 'Together' alliance - a coalition of centrists led by Macron's party - is set to be slaughtered when the French electorate heads to the polls tomorrow. The only real question is whether Macron's rival Marine Le Pen (inset) and her hard-right National Rally (RN) will be able to win the election so convincingly as to emerge with a majority. Latest exit polls are split over whether France faces a hung parliament or an outright RN victory - but if it's the latter then Macron will effectively lose control of his government. Here, MailOnline breaks examines why Macron and his party fell from grace and delves into some of the key issues fuelling the hard-right fervour ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections.

Lille, the good-time fête capital of Northern France, seems worlds apart from the slick Big Tech HQs of Kings Cross and St Pancras International. Yet its 17th- and 18th-century townhouses are not even 90 minutes away by Eurostar - faster than the train from London to Margate.

The often-overlooked city, population 450,000, has a spirited past: it was where protesters rose against Louis XVI in 1788, and was a hotbed of the Resistance during World War II. Now Grenoble is a charming spot to while away a couple of days between the Isere and Drac rivers.

The hotel has restaurants with one, two and three Michelin stars - Le George, L'Orangerie and Le Cinq. MailOnline Travel's Ted Thornhill checks in, and tries out the one and two-star eateries. He writes: 'This is a hotel that aims for the summit of perfection and just about gets there.'

Erik Conover, 34, a New York City resident, travelled to Normandy to tour the opulent Château du Champ de Bataille, which is owned by French architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia. The Baroque estate covers more than 300 acres and is made up of six main buildings: the chateau, the gardens, the grotto, the Indian palace, the Greek theater, and the greenhouse. Conover said he has collaborated with French real estate brokerage Barnes International to rent out Château du Champ de Bataille, saying that finding a number on the estate's value is 'nearly impossible.'

ALISON BOSHOFF: It's not exactly a guillotine chop, but this tumultuous, punkish mullet emerged after months of wearing wigs to play the French Queen, Emilia Schule (left), who rebelled by cutting an undercut into one side of her head. However, her revolutionary appearance is being buried as she begins filming the sequel to the hit BBC show (right) - so it's wigs all the way again. In reality, the actress, 30, has developed a close friendship with British co-star Louis Cunningham, the actor who plays Louis XVI (and, in real life, the son of Princess Charlotte of Luxembourg).

The latest published Best In Travel 2024 book by Lonely Planet ranks the top ten countries, top ten regions, and top ten cities to visit next year. This year, two new categories, the top ten 'value' and the top ten'sustainable' destinations, were also introduced, marking Lonely Planet's 50th birthday. This list will 'open up a year of unforgettable adventures' for travelers.

According to local reports, the Palace of Versailles in Paris is being evacuated for safety reasons. A bomb squad was on its way to the site, according to local media, citing police sources. On Tuesday, the Chateau de Versailles said on social media X that it would be closed.

The new dates for Charles and Camilla's postponed state visit to France have been revealed by Buckingham Palace. The King and Queen will visit France from Wednesday 20th to Friday, 22nd of September 2023, according to a statement issued by the Palace. The visit will highlight the United Kingdom's shared past, culture, and values.'

A monarchy can be out of syncé with its people, which is a dangerous thing. The French revolution of 1789 was largely triggered in large part by King Louis XVI's oozing wealth and his male subjects. We are not about to see a revolution here. According to the French, the British have a lot of sang-froid. However, there is a growing fear of the ever-widening divide between Charles III's oozing fortune and millions of ordinary Britons who are finding it increasingly difficult to put food on the table. The point here isn't just that the Royal Family is incredibly wealthy, but how wealthy they are not, as they refuse to admit. The British tax payer has perversely led them on a spiral path to ever greater riches, exposing the subject's - the tax payer - in the process. This is inaccurate, and must be stopped.

Tim Holding and Felicity Selkirk bought the Château de Purnon for $1.19 million in 2020 and have been working day and night ever since to restore it. The 105-room castle is 235 years old and is located in Verrue, France, which has just 400 inhabitants. Mr Holding, a Victorian MP from 1999 to 2013, and a year after he resigned, he set off for France. Mr Holding and his fiancée have been blogging their progress on the chateau, with Mr Holding attending the unveiling of Les Amis de Purnon (Friends of Purnon), a not-for-profit group that will assist with the restoration of Château de Purnon.

Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, 73, (right) had been granted the right to the Casino dell' Aurora (inset) by her late husband Prince Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi (together left), but he was refused entry, but he was booted out. Princes Bante, Ignazio, and Francesco, the former Playboy model's stepsons, have argued that they have a rightful claim to a portion of the 32,000-square-foot Renaissance villa and its immediate estate, which serves as the Boncompagni Ludovisi clan's ancestral home. They argued in an Italian court that the princess had destroyed the world's most valuable property as she attempted to restore it, and they were charging tours of the palace. Following the judge's arrival outside the palace gates on April 20, she had only 30 minutes to retrieve all of her possessions. Ludovisi is now homeless and penniless, while her $533 million house remains in limbo.

After her step-children told the court that the house needs to be remodeled, Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi was forced to pack her bags and leave the building. After learning that a wall at the property had 'collapsed,' a judge agreed in their favour, photographs show that the property's roots appear to have knocked off a single slab of marble at the house. Caravaggio's only known celling has been painted at Villa Aurora, and the Princess denies that the house can be left in disrepair. She and her husband spent $11 million restoring the exterior of the house before opening its doors to the public and encouraging students to explore inside. They married in 2009 and spent in the house together until the death of Nicolo Boncompagni Ludovisi in 2018. It is the world's most expensive house, with photos illustrating the opulent interior of the house with paintings and artwork throughout every corner.

SARAH VINE: It's surprising, really, that the incendiary mob raging through France has the same goal in mind for King Charles. They're up in arms over the prospect of boosting the retirement age from 62 to 64, and here's a man who's taking on a large job and a punishing new work schedule at the age of 74. The last thing these Leftist zealots need is to be made to look like lazy slackers by a man they've traditionally seen as an idle, blood-sucking leech. Not that any of that justifies the threats: 'Mort au Roi' (Death to the King) scrawled in red graffiti in the Place de la Concorde in Paris (scene, of course, of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's execution in 1793), or 'Charles III, do you know the guillotine?' And by the hard-Left's ludicrous standards, there's some good stuff.

Protests against pension reforms have grown in recent days, prompting King Charles to cancel his planned trip to the French capital. It comes as intelligence agencies there reported that the French people was concerned about King Charles' safety, but that 'cause of his passion for mingling with crowds,' he could not be guaranteed.' As the President continues to struggle against national demonstrations over pension reforms, a 'humiliated' Macron begged the King to postpone his visit to France on today.

King Charles has postponed his state tour to France due to continuing demonstrations over pension reforms. The trip had been suspended due to safety concerns for the King's safety, according to the Elysee Palace in France. On Sunday, Charles' trip to Paris and Bordeaux was supposed to begin, but demonstrations in both cities have erupted.

The French President suggested in Brussels this afternoon that the King's visit to France would take place in the 'early summer' in 2023. Incredibly security forces in Paris have attempted to claim that the postponement was partially due to the French's concern that King Charles' safety could not be guaranteed 'out of his care for crowds.' According to one British source, this is 'laughable' considering how much France has descended into political turmoil since Macron's efforts to lift the state pension age from 62 to 64 has sparked unrest, murder sprees, and marches in both directions of the country. Mr Macron has maintained that the 'common sense and affection' led to the 'detestable decision for the British people and us,' adding: "I believe it will not be justified and would lack any common sense if we welcomed His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort for a state visit amid the demonstrations.' So, I decided to call and tell His Majesty the King and Queen Consort, as well as the British people,', he said.

Protesters have erupted in Paris today, with protesters protesting with police as they protested the controversial pension reforms that were introduced in parliament last week. Thousands of protesters marched in Paris, but official estimates suggest that the true number is likely to be just fraction of that. Following some protesters who were seen throwing stones and directing fireworks at the security forces, police on Grands Boulevards exploded teargas and batons, according to live television images. Fires were lit (inset) and blazed in the streets, with pallets and mountains of uncollected garbage set ablaze, prompting firefighters to intervene. On the ninth day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations against the French government's pension reform, masked demonstrators (top left) and some firing tear gas canisters back at police, among other demonstrators. One photograph shows an injured police officer (right) being carried away from the riots by his coworkers.

The King and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have been warned that if they landed in Paris on Sunday as expected, as national tensions over Macron's pension age rises. Because of the danger posed by the protesters, a lavish banquet set to take place at the Palace of Versailles on Monday, where Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette lived before being guillotined. Thousands of police officers were on the streets of Paris today for the first day of state-sanctioned marches since President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote. Since the law was imposed by decree last Thursday, there have been regular demonstrations, and millions of people are likely to assemble during the day, with the country's biggest airport blocked by demonstrators this morning.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Macron appeared on live television to break his silence about increasing the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary election. The move, which took place last Thursday, has sparked controversy, with critics claiming that Charles III's decision to invite him to a banquet at the Palace of Versailles next week reveals how out of touch he was. Sandrine Rousseau, an MP, 'It's amazing.' "We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the Republican monarchy's meeting Charles III," says the street, although people are protesting. 'Can this really be happening? This is an extraordinary denial of democracy. Something is happening in this country - is the priority really to receive Charles III at Versailles?' Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, France's last legitimate king and queen, lived before being guillotined in Versailles, west of Paris.

In a parliamentary no-confidence vote today, French politicians have been threatened with the guillotine if they support President Emmanuel Macron's Government. Hundreds of macabre messages had been sent to MPs preparing for the critical vote in Paris, according to police. It comes after Mr Macron's decision to push the retirement age from 62 to 64 by bypassing parliament triggered widespread violent demonstrations in France. Agnes Evren, a vice-president of the Republicans, said she was "received death threats" that evoked King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette's guillotining during the 'Terror', which came after the French Revolution in 1789. These jihadists have no regard for their political foes and are explicitly inspired by the Terror,' she tweeted.'