TIMES ONLINE: What can the Queen expect when President Sarkozy and his new wife visit this month? Here is how she would be briefed by her Paris ambassador
The President of France and his new première dame are arriving for their first state visit on March 26. In preparation for greeting them, your majesty would be advised to forget everything about the last two such visits, by Monsieur Chirac in 1996 and 2004. Nicolas Sarkozy wields the same near-absolute power as his predecessors but he and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy are unlike previous incumbents of the republican monarchy.
Under the President, who is also known as Super Sarko or Speedy, decorum and discretion has given way at the Elysée Palace to a style that might be described as “in one's face”. One example of the new, unceremonial manner could be seen in Monsieur Sarkozy's decision in late February to curtail his stay as your guest by one day.
M Sarkozy, a man who is sensitive about his modest physical stature, has sought to “shake up” his country and dazzle his citizens with a constant display of activity and personal success. This has caused less charitable sections of the press to name him Président Bling Bling and le Président Pipole, or what our tabloid press might call the Celeb Prez.
Among the most spectacular of M Sarkozy's achievements in ten months in office has been his marriage to Madame Bruni Tedeschi, a “supermodel” from a wealthy Turin family who has lately made a name on the Continent as a chanteuse in the “pop-folk” style.
Unlike M Sarkozy, who speaks only a few words of English and is not familiar with our customs, Madame Sarkozy is fluent in both. The 40-year-old First Lady has an intimate understanding of our ways from past close friendships with some of your more famous subjects. These include Sir Mick Jagger of the “Rolling Stones” group and Mr Eric Clapton, a guitarist-singer. We understand from Mr Clapton's recent memoirs that his friendship with Sir Mick, who was married at the time to Miss Jerry Hall, suffered from their competition for the favours of the young Signorina Bruni.
The Sarkozys' wedding, conducted in secret in February, was remarkable in several ways. It was celebrated only two months after the couple met at the home of an advertising executive, and only three months after Cécilia Sarkozy, the second wife, ended her marriage with the President against his wishes. At the time, he was described by friends as “devastated” and he mourned his departed wife by wearing his wedding ring for a month.
Mme Bruni-Sarkozy, who moves with the well-off Bohemian set of the Left Bank, is a supporter of left-wing causes. She had disapproved publicly of “Sarko's” populist politics and had even told British newspapers that she did not much care for the French as a whole. It is true that she had long “wanted a man with his finger on the nuclear button”, as she put it. However, she also cherished her freedom to replace her consorts at will. Only last year, she regretted to a journalist that no man excited her senses for more than three weeks: “I am a tamer of men, a cat, an Italian. Monogamy bores me terribly,” she told Le Figaro newspaper. “I prefer polygamy and polyandry.” The last term refers to a lady who enjoys conjugal companionship with more than one man at a time.
It was with relief that France heard from Mme Bruni-Sarkozy last month (February) that she intends to remain with her new husband “jusqu'à la mort” - until death. M Sarkozy has also reassured his citizens that “With Carla, it's serious.” While Mr Sarkozy may have decided to shorten his stay at Windsor, his new wife has expressed her eager anticipation over the visit. She was asked how she felt about being your majesty's guest. She replied with one word: grisant - thrilling.
Here is a little background on each. PRESIDENT SARKOZY >>> By Charles Bremner
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