- Sir Keir Starmer was awarded France’s highest honour, the Legion d’honneur, by president Emmanuel Macron in Paris, in recognition of his work on European security and support for Ukraine .
- President Macron praised Sir Keir's 'personal leadership' and 'decency', stating the award was a ' testimony of gratitude' from the French people.
- The presentation followed a meeting of the 'coalition of the willing', a group co-established by Sir Keir and Mr Macron to support Ukraine, where he was thanked by Macron, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz .
- Sir Keir is the first serving British prime minister to receive the Legion d’honneur, an award established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte for 'outstanding merit'.
- This award was one of Sir Keir's final international engagements before his departure from office on July 20, and was followed by his attendance at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris.
IN FULL
