French State Visit

With a full rehearsal the day before and the tarmac roads carefully covered in sand, Windsor was thoroughly prepared for Nicolas Sarkozy's visit on 26th March. 50connect's office is in the town, so we went along to welcome the President of France.

Tourists lined the streets to see the Queen, but curious locals turned out to catch a glimpse of the French President's glamorous new wife Carla Bruni, famous for her career as a supermodel and singer. For a town that has seen the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations, a royal wedding and Elton John's civil ceremony in recent years, there had to be something special to attract the crowds.

Those who gathered to watch the first state visit to the town since 2001 were not disappointed. After waiting patiently and clapping politely as the Army band performed an eclectic medley including Pirates of Caribbean, Nessun Dorma and Run Rabbit Run, the crowd was rewarded with splendidly dressed troops of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force galloping past on horseback. The Changing of the Guard is a regular feature of the Windsor street scene, but the size of today's display was truly impressive.

There was a glimpse of the Queen driving to meet the French President and his wife, who were greeted at nearby Heathrow Airport by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Mr and Mrs Sarkozy received a Ceremonial Welcome at a temporary Royal Dais near the Riverside railway station, where the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, formally greeted the couple.

Then the royal party and their visitors boarded horse-drawn state carriages for the procession to Windsor Castle, accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry.

Sarkozy joined the Queen in the first carriage, while Prince Philip had the pleasure of Mrs Sarkozy's company in the second carriage. Prince Charles and Camilla followed in an open top carriage, as the colourful procession made its way to Windsor Castle via the Long Walk.

Sarkozy, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, reviewed a Guard of Honour in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle, which was followed by a private lunch and a tour of the Castle's White Drawing Room to view an exhibition of items from the Royal Collection, conducted by the Queen.

Meanwhile, life outside returned to normal as the crowds dispersed, leaving only a few tricolore flags discarded on the pavements as a sign of the recent spectacular pageantry.

On Thursday Sarkozy and Gordon Brown visit Arsenal's home, the Emirates Stadium to attend the UK-France Summit where they will give a Press Conference. With Arsene Wenger at its head and a succession of French players, the London football club is sure to make Sarkozy feel at home.

It would be diplomatic of the French President not to mention Wednesday's friendly match at the Stade de France in Paris, which left England losers. Instead Sarkozy will probably continue to build bridges, having already urged the two nations to move from an 'entente cordiale' to a warmer, friendlier 'entente'.

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