Owing to the victory of Edward III of England and his protégé Edward Balliol at Halidon Hill in July 1333, David and his Queen were sent for safety into France, reaching Boulogne in May 1334, where they were received by the French King, Philip VI. Little is known about the life of the Scottish King and Queen in France, except that Château-Gaillard was given to them as their residence. David was present at the bloodless meeting of the English and French armies at Vironfosse in October 1339.
Meanwhile David's representatives had obtained the upper hand in Scotland, and David and Joan were thus enabled to return to his kingdom in June 1341, when he took the reins of government into his own hands.