English Rose

‘TO mark 100 years of the Entente Cordiale between France and Britain, the Queen showed that even a half-German rosbif can be as French as the best of them.

The Independent was in Paris to see Liz walk about the city on day two of her three-day state visit.

And it saw Charles Vaudewalle, a local man celebrating his 25th birthday, reach from the crowds at Rue Montorgeuil, a popular French market, and hand the Queen a single red rose.

At which juncture the typical British pensioner would be expected to swoon, say thank you over and over and over and then explain at length how the bloom reminded her of her own garden back home.

But not Liz. And not in France. ‘She said nothing,’ revealed the young Frenchman. ‘Not even thank you.’

Which goes to show that after a century of trying, we British are finally getting the hang of doing things the French way.’

Posted: 7th, April 2004 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink