Keys to spend weekend with Queen

Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Photo / Supplied

Prime Minister John Key and his wife, Bronagh, have been granted the rare privilege of spending a weekend with the Queen as her guests at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The stay next month at the royal residence at the Queen's invitation will form part of Mr Key's trip to Europe which will see him hold talks with British and French leaders and attend the unveiling of a memorial for World War II hero Sir Keith Park.

Mr Key leaves New Zealand on Thursday week for London where he will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron and undertake a number of engagements with an economic and business focus.

"This will be an opportunity to establish close links with the new British coalition government and to build on the solid ties we already share with the United Kingdom," Mr Key said in a statement.

"I look forward to seeing Mr Cameron for the first time since he was elected Prime Minister and to meeting other senior members of the Government, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg."

"The unveiling of a statue in memory of Sir Keith Park in London will be a proud moment for New Zealand."

Mr Key will be visiting France for the first time as Prime Minister. He will meet President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon in Paris for formal talks.

"New Zealand has a wide-ranging relationship with France which spans across a number of areas," Mr Key said.

"I look forward to discussing with Mr Sarkozy our cooperation in the Pacific and in Europe."

During his time in France Mr Key will visit Longueval on the Somme, where he will lay wreaths at the New Zealand and French memorials to the fallen in World War One.

In Paris, Mr Key will also hold discussions at the OECD.