King Charles hosts French President for State Visit

[My2cents1975]

After Brexit, the Royal Family (Queen Elizabeth and then King Charles) have deployed soft power to support Anglo-French rapprochement.

Hopefully politicians will pursue improved co-operation between the two nations as it is critical for security (Ukraine war) and prosperity (reducing trade barriers for small to medium businesses hit hard by increased red tape post-Brexit).

King Charles hosts President Macron and his wife Brigitte at Windsor for state visit

I just read a couple of articles about the cost of the dinner and the figure mentioned both times, as well as on a news segment was 300,000 pounds.

So not 2million then! 🙄

@jeffgoldblum apparently not. Not that I ever thought the figure would have ever have been at the 2 million mark in the first place. So even if we doubled the 300k just for the sake of it it’s still only a fraction of 2 million.

So, from what I read on MN, only about 5X the cost of the average fancy wedding, then! 🤣

£300k. Compared with (as per Gov.UK figures):

Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and France was £104.2 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024

£300k is a drop in the ocean compared with the value of the trade (not to mention security) relationship.

Isn’t it the government of the day, not the royals, that decide on who to invite for state visits? I always thought it was.

Laughing at the "feminist" argument against the state banquet clothing choices of the senior royal women. From the same posters who say that these women's choices are frumpy and that their hair is too long. Yes, royal women, in the name of feminism, show a bit more flesh, pop on some pretty pastels, and for feminism's sake, get a buzz cut.

I’m curious where this 2million figure came from?

I did think however million was unlikely-that’s why I asked! But 300K doesn’t seem enough if it includes security?

Is anyone prepared to speculate about the CBA?

Definitely. Nothing to do with their choice.

The late Queen was said to have loathed hosting the Ceaucescus in the 70s, and did not enjoy the Orange Wonder more recently.

So you speculated and complained about a made up exaggerated amount of money for pages and pages , asking continually for answers as to what value for money we would get from it and proof that it would pay off .

now you are saying you didn’t believe it anyway and the actual stated amount seems too low !
🤷‍♀️

That’s what I thought @CoffeeCantata so irrelevant how much was spent or what good it does and why the royals decide on the details. I’m sure the royals do have input, but I bet, it all gets at very least looked at by the government.

I don’t know why you think that figure too low for a dinner - they already have the venue, the china, the cutlery, the table decorations, the linen, the tables, the chairs etc. They will need to purchase food, likely wine as well and other beverages, and pay for extra staff.

The Castle is already protected, and Macron would have his own security with him, plus the senior royals and senior government figures would have their own, as this counts as an official duty. The other guests don’t need security.

Perhaps Curlew Kate liked this aspect? I believe these were local sheep drafted in for the event. 😂

@Serenster

Well said.

Picnic in a field with the Macrons, eating squashed cheese and pickle sarnies, surrounded by smelly farm animals and trying to fend off wasps. Sounds very republican, thrifty and quintessentially British! 😂

Madame Macron has worn all blue and all white to previous Bastille Day celebrations. Melania Trump wore all white last week for the 4th of July, and has previously worn a blue and white gingham dress. So it seems they disagree with you (and presumably also know what fits into public expectations…).

And as for the CBA - do a FOIA to the FCO? They are the ones most likely to have the information you are demanding, not MN posters, well-informed though we clearly are.

Although anyone who has ever travelled in any Marxist republic can tell you that the pigs put the human clothes on pretty quickly.

The Government publish the figures for State and Guest of Government visits online but the latest lot are only for the period to mid 2023.

@onehorserace

Oh that’s so sweet! Patriotic sheep. I agree they should have had a role but they’d need to get an equal number of tricolour ones to make the diplomatic point!

And let’s face it, we are old rivals where France is concerned - we’ve got to put on a good show! We don’t want to confirm any old cliches about awful food and terrible wine.😄

If the £300,000 is correct, the UK spent 75% of what the French spent (£400,000) hosting KC3 at Versailles for a lavish lobster dinner in 2023.

If you adjust the figures to reflect two years of inflation, it is an even better deal for the UK. Rather thrifty of KC3, n'est pas?

Absolutely not! British food absolutely rocks when it's done right! I say this as someone brought up by parents who viewed any British food with extreme suspicion! I wonder if the Macrons got to taste some Highgrove wine?

I imagine it cost a fair bit less than the Field of Cloth of Gold — though that’s a high bar! Henry VIII and François I were the ultimate royal frenemies, constantly trying to outdo each other in splendour and pageantry.

One of the more amusing moments came when they decided to challenge each other to a wrestling match. Needless to say, it didn’t go quite how Henry hoped — François won, which apparently bruised more than just English pride. It’s a perfect reminder that while grand gestures have their place, a little subtle diplomacy can save you from public humiliation!

(For anyone curious, here’s some info about it: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/history-and-stories/the-field-of-cloth-of-gold)

Ooh I attended a lecture on a cruise recently where the field of gold was said to have cost in the region of what today would be around £20 million 😮