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On the occasion of the jubilee of Elizabeth II, who will celebrate her 70 years of reign, the news of “20 hours” recalls how precious the links between the Queen of England and France are.
Since her coronation, Elizabeth II has met every French president, from René Coty to Emmanuel Macron. In 2014, the Queen came to France for the 70ᵉ anniversary of D-Day. The one who speaks impeccable French has always had a special affection for France. In 1948, when she was still a princess, she made her first official trip abroad without her parents, to France.
“In terms of international relations, the Queen was brought up with the idea that for the United Kingdom, France is a gateway (…) to the rest of Europe”, explains Robert Lacey, historian specializing in the British royal family. In 1960, she invited Charles de Gaulle. Among French presidents, her complicity was strongest with François Mitterrand, alongside whom she inaugurated the Channel Tunnel, a symbol of Franco-British ties. Since then, the sovereign continues to appreciate France.