French President Emmanuel Macron has awarded British Prime Minister Keir Starmer the Legion of Honour, France's highest national honour. The ceremony took place in Paris on July 14, during which the 63-year-old outgoing prime minister attended the annual military parade in central Paris as a guest of the French president alongside other allies of Ukraine.
The honour was presented in recognition of Starmer's work with France on the security of Europe following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. President Macron praised Starmer's decency and his contributions to the security of Europe and the support of Ukraine.
Starmer is the first UK prime minister to receive the Légion d’honneur. He was recognized for his leadership in establishing the coalition of the willing, a group of countries chaired by France and the UK that pledged support for Ukraine at a critical moment for Europe in early 2025.