Marches in Paris were marred by violence, as were protests in other major cities including Nantes, Lyon, and Rennes.
In Bordeaux, the door to Bordeaux City Hall was set on fire and destroyed on Thursday evening by members of an unauthorised demonstration.
In Paris, masked groups clashed with police and attacked at least two fast food restaurants, a supermarket and a bank. Some launched Molotov cocktails and objects at police.
French ministers had earlier insisted that the King would be welcomed and that security “poses no problem”.
Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said there was “enormous degrading” of public buildings at some protests on Thursday.
“There are troublemakers, often extreme left, who want to take down the state and kill police and ultimately take over the institutions,” he claimed.
French labour union CGT union had also previously announced this week that its members would not help prepare a Sunday reception for the King upon his arrival in Paris.
