- 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.
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