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

...and don't mention Agincourt.

Sorry childishly had a fawlty towers flashback!!!
“ I mentioned it once , but I think I got away with it!”
🤣

To get to the hall where the State Banquet was held, guests had to walk through the Waterloo Chamber. Dedicated to the military defeat of Napoleon in 1815! 🤣

Yes, FT came into my mind as I typed it. "And don't mention the war, either, because de Gaulle took refuge here and he was so mad at owing us a favour he said a loud 'Non' when we first thought about joining the Common Market."

Thanks !
now I’ve got abba stuck in my head!!! 🙄🤣

How about a Marie Antoinette one?

🤣
you started it!!!
no I didn’t! , you did when you invaded Poland!

I love the fact that this was the Germans favourite episode!

Yes, NewAgeNewMe, they're invited on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

In which case, if they're looking for reliable diplomacy now Charles has the top job, I just hope it doesn't occur to them to ask the Chinese lot ... is it twice or three times now he's snubbed events with them?

Too true!

I was thinking about this earlier and I suspect it was the lobster that did it. And if you look at the British menu it’s all very basic budget friendly ingredients. Fresh seasonal vegetables and chicken with an economical desert of what sounds like deconstructed summer pudding. Mind you it sounded delicious even when written in English.

And I doubt they’re plied with drink either. Probably one glass of each wine per person and the one for the toast.

Glass or 2 of champagne
glass of white
glass of red (not sure as think main was chicken)
glass of port
glass for toast

that’s quite a bit. I can easily drink equivalent of a bottle a day, (& have) if I’ve had couple of glasses at lunchtime as well 🙈

@RandyRedHumpback this is thd wine list

Guests each have five glasses, and the wine list includes Domaine Evremond, Classic Cuvee, Edition I, NV; Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Etienne Sauzet, 2022; Chateau Haut-Brion; 1er Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan, 1996; Louis Roederer, Carte Blanche, NV. The English sparkling wine will be used for the toast.

Following dinner, guests will be served Taylor’s 1977 Vintage Port and a 1948 Grande Champagne Cognac by Frapin & Co. The drinks were selected to reflect the years in which President Macron and the King were born.

there was also a special cocktail created for the occasion - gin with lemon curd and French pastis.

@NewAgeNewMe it is quite a bit but I suspect they don’t go around topping up the glasses between rounds.

Possibly smaller glasses as well and sips of water in between that’s always where I go wrong 😂

Thank you for that @Weepixie, that's great knowledge! I hope Monsieur Présidente didn't choke on his English sparkling wine! (I'm continually surprised when powerful heads of state are younger than me, one day I will feel like a grown up 😢)

That cocktail sounds vile, though. I don't like pastis and gin makes me cry, but I'd happily have glassful of lemon curd 😂

Yeah I’m going to be honest the cocktail isn’t to my taste. I’d have preferred a champagne topped Pimms cup or some sort of Champagne and British gin combination with some British garden fruit/infusion. But I still like the sentiment behind the Entente Cordiale cocktail.

How on earth is a white dress "in your face"?!

I'm also interested. What should be worn? What should be eaten at the teas and lunches?

As long as people were wearing clothing not reminiscent of any nation's flag 😂!

😂

OK, Brits in Scout uniform, French all dressed as Robespierre. Mme Macron bringing her knitting optional.

😂they could go for tea at an M&S cafe. They could probably get a hot drink for free if someone has a Sparks card.

Too decadent and middle class. Get those bloody Wales children to start a fire and cook a sausage for everyone - ensuring fair distribution, of course, we don't need SauageGate, The Diplomatic Incident Chapter.

I’ll agree it sounds British. In fact it’s a perfect description of an Easter picnic with my granny and grandad. There we would be full of squashed sandwiches and just about to start on our Easter Egg and my grandad would start ordering us to take deep breaths and breath in the smelly farm animal ‘fresh air’ because it was good for our lungs.

And the amount of times my Easter Egg would home in on a huge cow pat like a heat seeking missile when on its way down the nearest wee hill was unbelievable, but I still ate it once the foil wrapper had been wiped down on the sleeve of my grans cardigan.