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Macron's state visit.

(184 Posts)
escaped Tue 08-Jul-25 07:32:53

Seeing as he's probably about to board his plane, and road closures are now being put in place around Windsor, I thought I'd start a thread on Macron's state visit.
There's an awful lot riding on it.
Nice to see the younger royals getting involved too.

Galaxy Tue 08-Jul-25 19:09:09

Oh hello FGT, glad you are back.

Pantglas2 Tue 08-Jul-25 19:06:58

So good to have you back FGT 🥰

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 08-Jul-25 19:05:11

And Starmer wanted us to lock down for longer. I remember that …

Pantglas2 Tue 08-Jul-25 19:04:11

LizzieDrip

Mamie

I don't know if you were here in Covid escaped, but whenever he spoke to the nation, I always felt we were in very safe hands. The implemention was incredibly paperwork heavy (quelle surprise), but you knew exactly what you could and couldn't do. The strategy of getting children back in school as soon as possible seems to have paid off.

Lucky you!

We were stuck with Johnson throughout Covid!

Go to work; don’t go to work; stay at home; don’t stay at home; Christmas is on; Christmas is off; schools are open; schools are closed.

Grr, we didn’t know whether we were coming or bloody goingangryangryangry

Try Wales for conflicting messages!

“We’re all in this together” when restrictions were imposed across Wales because the south were experiencing difficulties and then north Wales alone suffered limits because only they had the highest figures…

Tories/Labour eh…

Whitewavemark2 Tue 08-Jul-25 19:00:18

And then we were treated to the spectacle of parties in the garden and office.

LizzieDrip Tue 08-Jul-25 18:43:39

Mamie

I don't know if you were here in Covid escaped, but whenever he spoke to the nation, I always felt we were in very safe hands. The implemention was incredibly paperwork heavy (quelle surprise), but you knew exactly what you could and couldn't do. The strategy of getting children back in school as soon as possible seems to have paid off.

Lucky you!

We were stuck with Johnson throughout Covid!

Go to work; don’t go to work; stay at home; don’t stay at home; Christmas is on; Christmas is off; schools are open; schools are closed.

Grr, we didn’t know whether we were coming or bloody goingangryangryangry

Mamie Tue 08-Jul-25 18:25:39

I don't know if you were here in Covid escaped, but whenever he spoke to the nation, I always felt we were in very safe hands. The implemention was incredibly paperwork heavy (quelle surprise), but you knew exactly what you could and couldn't do. The strategy of getting children back in school as soon as possible seems to have paid off.

escaped Tue 08-Jul-25 18:19:17

He's such a great orator.
I agree. It's impressive how he moves swiftly and effortlessly from subject to subject, but leaves no stone unturned. And in a foreign language too. I noticed lots of emphasis on the future and new generations. He doesn't want to let up.
He deserves his banquet or whatever this evening.

escaped Tue 08-Jul-25 18:17:45

And cooperation!

Whitewavemark2 Tue 08-Jul-25 18:13:41

His speech has been well received.

I think the theme was unity. Good oh.

Mamie Tue 08-Jul-25 17:57:07

I thought it was an excellent address to the Houses of Parliament. He is such a good orator.

Casdon Tue 08-Jul-25 17:44:05

Mamie

Why are the media all calling her Mrs Macron? Surely Madame Macron wouldn't be that difficult?

Probably for the same sneery reason that they still call Catherine Kate Middleton. It really gets on my nerves when the media not so subtly does that.

escaped Tue 08-Jul-25 17:40:15

In his speech this afternoon in The Royal Gallery, Macron made it clear that migrants would not be allowed to flout any entry rules. He referred to migration as posing a "burden" to both our countries and said it has to be fixed today. Hopefully this wasn't just empty words to impress his audience.

There were several tongue in cheek comments about the trials of writing the new Brexit script and the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK - but apparently he remembers it all with fondness - which sounds like the usual French pragmatic attitude!
Oh, and Madame Macron had changed her outfit since earlier.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 08-Jul-25 16:34:44

I thought the French presents to the King appropriate and rather nice. I’d like them😊!

Mamie Tue 08-Jul-25 16:19:26

Why are the media all calling her Mrs Macron? Surely Madame Macron wouldn't be that difficult?

Maremia Tue 08-Jul-25 15:57:14

Some have cast off their monarchs, but the USA is in the process of anointing one. wink

Allira Tue 08-Jul-25 15:32:52

Oh dear, hope my remark about Trump wasn't a dig 😁

Allira Tue 08-Jul-25 15:31:58

Rosie51

Whitewavemark2

Jaxjacky

I just hope people on here will lay off Brigitte, her hair/age difference/clothing and focus on other matters.

😄😄 they won’t, they can’t help themselves. Always have a dig when you can is their motto. That is why SM is so toxic.

There is a dig on the Norman Tebbit thread reporting his death. Restraint is sadly lacking on SM.

Yes, it was uncalled for on a bereavement thread.

Allira Tue 08-Jul-25 15:31:10

Jaberwok

I don't think that Queen EliZabeth worked any particular magic although people abroad do seem fascinated by our royal family! Not quite sure why when most threw theirs over centuries ago including the Americans!

Most is not a precise term.

There are still 43 countries which have a Monarchy.
More are Republics but, looking at the state of some of them and their Heads of State (not all), I think I prefer ours.

Whoever they are, they do seem to like a State visit to our country.

I hope this is a productive one and I'm pleased Macron is here before Trump!

Rosie51 Tue 08-Jul-25 14:25:59

Whitewavemark2

Jaxjacky

I just hope people on here will lay off Brigitte, her hair/age difference/clothing and focus on other matters.

😄😄 they won’t, they can’t help themselves. Always have a dig when you can is their motto. That is why SM is so toxic.

There is a dig on the Norman Tebbit thread reporting his death. Restraint is sadly lacking on SM.

Jaberwok Tue 08-Jul-25 14:08:36

I don't think that Queen EliZabeth worked any particular magic although people abroad do seem fascinated by our royal family! Not quite sure why when most threw theirs over centuries ago including the Americans!

Casdon Tue 08-Jul-25 12:43:00

I applaud Catherine’s hat, it looks stylish and is the perfect shape and angle to keep the sun right off her face on such a warm day. I think all three ladies look lovely today.

Mamie Tue 08-Jul-25 12:31:21

Catherine looks nice in Dior. Do we know who designed Brigitte's dress? I like it, a bit softer than some of her outfits. Windsor looks wonderful, the carriage procession was lovely.

escaped Tue 08-Jul-25 12:15:46

Maybe Anniebach, but it's not fair to damn posters on this thread until they've commented. We'll see.

Anniebach Tue 08-Jul-25 12:11:37

Last discussion about Brigitte was not about her clothes but her
early sex life