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

It was a joke 🤣

Haha what do you expect? That's what they love! What would you expect - a Chinese takeaway? 😂

It’s clear that some people know nothing about diplomacy, international politics or international relations!

I'd love to go to one! A chance to dress up and meet important and interesting people, eat lovely food from fine china, an evening of formality and elegance. I think it's good to show off the good parts of your culture, while showing your guests you respect theirs.

They are work for both the hosts and guests. For a shy man like KC, and a countrywoman like Camilla, I imagine they’re a strain. But it’s what they have to do and I think they both do it brilliantly. I think Charles can be endearingly bumbling and establishes a rapport very well. He isn’t tall and intimidating and is smiley and jolly so puts people at their ease. He’s not pompous and is the antithesis of Trump striding ahead of the elderly late queen with a self-important expression on his orange face.

I imagine many foreign dignitaries are surprised at the humility KC displays.

I'd be very nervous at such an occasion. Perfect opportunity for me to spill the sauce on my dress, or tip over a glass of (red obv) wine onto the pristine tablecloth. And the protocol, and so many knives, forks, spoons, and napkins. I do know how to use millions of cutlery, i.e. from the outside in, 😊but I'd be lying if I didn't say that the sheer formality of such an occasion would have me like the terrified neighbour in Mrs. Bucket with the periwinkle china cups.

It it’s important for Anglo-French relations that the President is seen to be treated with the highest level of respect and dignity. French TV will want to show the carriage ride, the Household Cavalry and the spectacular dinner at Windsor Castle. It’s a way of showing the utmost respect for the country concerned and the public spectacle is vital.

Macron overspent the dinner budget in France to the extent he was rapped on the knuckles by French state auditors (Cour des Comptes).

To suggest that Macron would be anything other than mortally offended with "lunches and teas" is divorced from reality. And the negative impact on talks around security and trade would be substantial.

France’s dinner bill for Modi, King Charles banquets came to nearly a million euros

Somebody down-thread (sorry, can’t find it) said that the banquets pay for themselves in trade deals. Is there any sort of CBA anywhere? Is it possible to actually put a financial value on such things? What are we going to get out of it?

There will be trade deals done on the back of this visit now and in the future

I don't pretend to have figures to know either way, @Weepixie, but let's not forget this is what we were invited to believe as a result of Andrew's visits during his time as "Trade Envoy"

Clearly a state occasion's very different to having that oaf darkening your door, but I wouldn't want to be too quick to assume benefits not yet seen

Maybe Catherine was wise to wear the red dress!🤣🤣

This ⬆️

Most countries do this, and have done so for centuries. It must be worth it.
However, soft diplomacy is quite hard to calculate.

Not provoking an international incident!
maintaining a relationship with our closest ally?
being able to rely on them coming to our defence should it be needed?
or is none of that of value !

I know! Imagine just giving him "lunches and teas" bearing in mind his example!

@CurlewKate, can I ask ? Do you really dislike France?

I agree. A will of iron I’d say. No pizza or chocolate could tempt her. Unlike me

I didn’t like the colour of the red dress on Catherine. I think it was a colour that didn’t suit her. But she looks very elegant.
I liked her Dior suit but wasn’t crazy about that colour either and thought her hair was a tad too long and the curls were sort of childish looking from the back - I knew a girl with curls like that when I was young 😀

I really don’t understand women like Mme Macron. She, as his teacher should have walked away. She was what, 39 ? And he was a boy (15 ?) in her daughter’s class.
I liked her white coat with the gold accents though.

Quite, it's of supreme value, which is why so many nations invest in this kind of event.

Do you genuinely think that there need to be banquets to achieve those ends?

No. And I’m not suggesting a cup of tea and a French Fancy either…

Now more than ever, in the age of seeing, not reading, optics are absolutely crucial. We have to demonstrate visually and very clearly that we value our relationship with friendly foreign powers.

And boy, does this apply to the French and our other European neighbours just now. We need to rebuild relationships post-Brexit and I’m sure this helps.

The question really is - why do you think they shouldn't happen? Clearly nations have been doing these ceremonial diplomatic events for centuries. If it was all a waste of money, the practice would have been abandoned, surely?

Excellent points 👌

I think it's about giving the country you want to smooze the highest level of public recognition you have available. So if we didn't have a monarchy and all the pomp, then some other sort of state dinner would be offered. It's also the part of the constitutional monarchy deal for the monarch - you get the role but you have to do what your government tells you.

Poor late Queen had to hold her nose for lots of awful people that the government of the day wanted to do deals with.

There's a story that before the Ceausescus visited, the palace had been tipped off by the French who had hosted them just before the UK visit that they had trashed the state rooms in the Elysee Palace. So the Queen told her staff to remove anything that was valuable or could be removed from the suite in Buckingham Palace before they arrived.

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