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A New Entente Cordiale
Nicolas Sarkozy makes his first state visit to Britain tomorrow: His wife, Carla Bruni, and his mother are in tow
Throughout history, relations between France and England have been turbulent. There was a bad start when William the Conqueror invaded the British island in 1066. The English got their revenge at the battle of Agincourt in October 1415 when the soldiers from Blighty decimated an army of France.
Matters improved with a summit between Henry VIII and Francis I at a place known as 'The Field of the Cloth of Gold' in northern France near Calais in 1520.
This month Nicolas Sarkozy - with his new wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy - will undertake his first official state visit to Britain.
Economic relations between the two nations are important today. The French supply electricity to over five million British customers. France is Britain's third-biggest trading partner. Britain is the biggest foreign investor in France (in terms of stock market value).
Human 'interface' is good as well. At least 300,000 French citizens live in the United Kingdom. (There is a well-known French-speaking district in South Kensington in London). As many as 500,000 Britons own homes in France. (The republique has opened an English-speaking tax office in Dordogne in south-west France).
President Nicolas Sarkozy and prime minister Gordon Brown have a business-like rapport. Unlike the warm friendship between Sarkozy and ex-prime minister Tony Blair.
The highlight of the visit across the Channel will be a full-fledged state banquet in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. (Not in the adjoining Waterloo Room).
The Queen speaks perfect French. The president has a modest grasp of the English language.
The last French president to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom was Jacques Chirac. He said afterwards: "You can't trust people who have such terrible food".
Bon appetite Monsieur le President.
