King Charles is expected to head to France for his first overseas trip as sovereign as he embarks on his new role.
Rather than visit one of the Commonwealth countries, it is looking increasingly likely he may instead head to Paris "as soon as next month" as part of a tour.
The European power is an unexpected choice for a first visit, as state trips by monarchs are typically made to members of the Commonwealth.
However the Foreign Office, which has the final say on where the royals will travel to, is said to be keen on the idea, the Telegraph reports.
The visit would come as Britain tries to build bridges with France following Brexit.
As Queen Elizabeth II struggled to travel during the final years of her reign, no state visits have been conducted by the monarch for the past seven years.
A visit to France would also allow the new King to work on a major tree-planting scheme in Africa.
The plan, designed to combat climate change, reportedly has both his and Emmanuel Macron’s backing.
An exhibition about the Great Green Wall project - which aims to plant trees across 30 miles of the African continent - could also be held during the visit.
Macron and his wife Bridgette travelled to London for the late Queen’s funeral earlier this week, with King Charles greeting the pair at a Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders on Sunday night.
Ahead of the funeral, the couple gifted King Charles a book of pictures celebrating his mother's visits to France during her 70 year reign.
King Charles III last year shared a platform with Mr Macron at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow to encourage investment in what he described as a “precious opportunity” to help save the planet.
While no plans for the King’s first foreign visit have been set in stone, there have been reports that a visit to a close neighbour will come ahead of a long-haul trip to a Commonwealth country.
France is an important international partner to Britain, due to its trade and its place as a NATO ally and because the Government is reliant on its help to stem the tide of illegal cross-Channel migrants.
The royal family as a “soft power” has historically been exploited as a diplomatic tool, and the Foreign Office is keen to capitalise on its popularity in the wake of the late Queen’s funeral.
Paying tribute to Elizabeth II, Macron said the French people felt “an emptiness” because of her death.
“To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was The Queen,” he said.
Macron said he had issued an invitation to Charles to make a state visit to France.
“I had the opportunity to invite King Charles to come to France when it is appropriate for him,” he said.
