A small corner of foreign land that is “forever England” is about to take another step towards becoming even more “Anglicised.”
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage International Airport is preparing for what local civic leaders are calling “a turning point in its history.” On 17 May, the airport will officially be renamed Elizabeth II Le Touquet-Paris-Plage International Airport.
A royal tribute
As Travel Tomorrow reported, although King Charles III had previously approved the name change, a date for the inauguration had yet to be confirmed. It has now been scheduled for less than two months from now, shortly after the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which will be commemorated in the UK with four days of celebrations from 5 to 8 May.
The renaming is a direct tribute from the town to the late Queen Elizabeth II — and also to her uncle, Edward VIII — both of whom were known to have loved France. Le Touquet-Paris-Plage has long been regarded as “the most British of French resorts.”
The proposal for the renaming was first made to the British Crown just six days after the Queen’s death, in recognition of her “exceptional life” and in memory of Edward VIII, a frequent visitor to the resort by air. A young Elizabeth was known to occasionally accompany her uncle, who enjoyed sand yachting and horse riding, two activities traditionally associated with the area.
A spokesperson for the town council stated, “The generous acceptance of the Mayor’s proposal by King Charles III further reinforces the image of Le Touquet as the most British of French resorts.”
A deeply rooted connection
The longstanding bond between Le Touquet and England dates back decades. The roots of this Anglo-French relationship began with John Robinson Whitley, a linoleum magnate from Leeds, who purchased land in Le Touquet in 1894. His acquisition transformed the village’s fortunes, triggering a construction boom and rapid expansion, which led the French government to create a separate commune in 1912.
Prestigious hotels sprang up during this period, and by the Roaring Twenties, Le Touquet had become a glittering destination with the largest casino in France and the luxurious Royal Picardy Hotel.
Aeronautical excellence with British ties
The airport itself was designed in the 1930s to serve the influx of British tourists. By the 1950s, it had become a key link between the UK and continental Europe. At one point, Le Touquet’s airport was the third busiest in France by passenger traffic, behind only Orly and Nice.
A town council spokesperson expressed hope that the newly named Elizabeth II International Airport will “continue to further strengthen the friendship between Le Touquet and Great Britain.”
In recent years, several events have further highlighted this unique bond. These include the restoration of the town hall bells to play the Big Ben melody, the presence of the Red Arrows at the 2022 airshow, and the England rugby team using Le Touquet as their base camp for the 2023 World Cup.
The objective, according to the council, is to maintain the town and its airport as “a strong instrument linking us with Great Britain, in particular by welcoming tourist planes from across the Channel.”
A rich history in aviation and royal connections
Mayor Daniel Fasquelle described the airport’s renaming as a “great honour,” noting that the airport’s “glorious past is a mosaic of significant events.”
Among these key milestones:
- On 6 April 1936, the town entered the world of aviation when the British aircraft ‘Scylla’ (G-ACJJ) of Imperial Airways arrived with 42 passengers. The aircraft featured a bar and restaurant, bringing glamour to air travel.
- In the late 1940s, the Bristol 170 Freighter launched car-carrying flights between Le Touquet and Kent (Lympne and later Lydd), with over 125,000 flights transporting 759,000 passengers between 1948 and 1958.
- On 6 April 1940, the Royal Air Force stationed a Hurricane squadron at the airport as part of the British Expeditionary Force. The Luftwaffe bombed the site on 10 May 1940, destroying the planes while many pilots were at a nearby café-bar.
- On 5 April 1956, Prince Philip landed at Le Touquet for his first Channel flight as an amateur pilot.
- On 10 June 1971, the “Silver Arrow” service linked Paris to Le Touquet via train and plane, cutting Paris–London travel time to under four hours.
- On 14 May 2022, Princess Anne landed at Le Touquet airport to visit Étaples and honour the armed forces at France’s largest Commonwealth cemetery — 100 years after her great-grandfather George V’s visit.
Honouring the Queen’s legacy
Six days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Le Touquet town hall proposed renaming the airport to honour her and Edward VIII, who frequently visited the resort and enjoyed its equestrian and seaside offerings.
En raison de l’attachement de la famille royale pour la France et la station, je proposerai au prochain conseil municipal de donner le nom d’Elisabeth II à notre aéroport international, un lien fort depuis toujours entre nos deux pays. Le plus britannique des aéroports français.
— Daniel Fasquelle (@DFasquelle) September 14, 2022
The airport, located 2.9 km southeast of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, has had a colourful history. On 2 May 1981, it hit international headlines when an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Heathrow was hijacked and diverted there. French forces stormed the aircraft 10 hours later. Thankfully, no one was injured.
A symbolic gateway for British tourists
Though it no longer ranks among France’s largest airports, it remains a favourite for British travellers. Regular routes connect it with UK airports such as London Stansted, East Midlands, Manchester and Bournemouth. Visitors often rent bicycles — including electric ones — to explore the nearby town for weekend getaways.
Historically, the area has also attracted major British figures. Winston Churchill once visited, and the town inspired James Bond author Ian Fleming. The 007 Suite at Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster commemorates the place where Sean Connery is believed to have signed on for the Bond role.
English remains widely spoken in town, from the Art Deco-style Westminster hotel to the iconic lighthouse, which was illuminated in Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite colours during her Platinum Jubilee. President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte, inherited a villa in Le Touquet, and the couple frequently spend time there and vote locally.
All eyes will now turn to 17 May and the official renaming of the airport — an event expected to be attended by high-level representatives from both sides of the English Channel.
