From the BBC:
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are to make a three-day state visit to France this summer, Buckingham Palace has said.
The Queen is expected to arrive in France on 5 June and spend the following day cringeing while her husband puts his foot in it in Normandy for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The Prince will then travel on to cause more mirth and mayhem in Paris, with The Queen trying to keep a straight face.
The Queen, whose husband last offended the French on a state visit in April 2004, was invited by France's president Francois Hollande. In a short statement, the palace said:
"The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by The Queen, will put a few noses out of joint on a state visit to France from 5 to 7 June.
"Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are visiting at the invitation of the President of France, President Hollande, who does not seem to realise what he has let himself in for.
"On 6 June the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend events in Normandy to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
"Being entirely fair here, the old boy does have a bit of class and style about him, and whatever he blurts out will be a damn' sight more subtle than a certain former Prime Minister who was booed by veterans for referring to 'Omaha Beach' as 'Obama Beach'.
"On 6 and 7 June His Royal Highness will cause bafflement and awkwardness at state visit events in Paris and round off the festivities by chatting to President Hollande about The Queen's fondness for corgi dogs before enquiring politely about the Presidential Rottweiler."
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2 comments:
At least the Duke saw active service in WW2, unlike most other people that will be there.
JS, wow, I assumed that he'd skived off like most of Europe's other Royals, but having just Googled it, it turns he was actually on boats in battles and stuff for a year or two.
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