Emmanuel Macron walked arm in arm with his wife, Brigitte, while wearing sunglasses through the crowds. He was accompanied by his security detail when he stopped to speak to people queueing to see the Queen lying in state. He told them on behalf of the French people that he “shares the British people’s pain”.
Twitter users were quick to mock the president for trying to go unnoticed.
Alix Mortimer wrote: “Emmanuel Macron incognito is possibly the least incognito person I’ve ever seen.”
While Anthony Pope said: “He looks peak Macron here. Nice touch with the scarf.”
Lewis Jackson added: “Macron arrives in London incognito wearing the most cognito outfit imaginable.”
READ MORE: Queen did not want her ‘funeral service to be boring’
It comes as Britons held a minute’s silence to mourn the Queen’s death ahead of the state funeral.
At 8pm on Sunday, the country observed the silence to remember the late monarch, with people marking the occasion privately at their homes and at community events and vigils.
Liz Truss stood outside 10 Downing Street with her head bowed during the national moment of reflection, with people across the country following suit.
However, Big Ben did not strike before and after the silence as originally planned due to a technical issue.
Approximately 500 guests attended the event, among them the Prime Minister, US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden and France’s President Emmanuel Macron, who was joined by his wife, first lady Brigitte.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and other working members of the royal family including the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joined Charles and the Queen Consort in mingling with guests.
Dozens of leaders of Commonwealth countries and members of foreign royal families also attended the reception.
Kate earlier held an audience with the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska at the palace.