State Visit to the UK by the President of the French Republic

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

At the invitation of The Queen, His Excellency M. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, 26 March to Thursday, 27 March 2008. The President will stay at Windsor Castle.

Background

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to France in April 1957, as the guests of President René Coty

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to France in May 1972, as the guests of President Pompidou

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to France in June 1992, as the guests of President Mitterrand

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to France in April 2004, as the guests of President Chirac

President and Madame de Gaulle paid a State Visit to the United Kingdom in April 1960

President and Madame Valery Giscard d'Estaing paid a State Visit to the United Kingdom in June 1976

President and Madame François Mitterrand paid a State Visit to the United Kingdom in October 1984

President and Madame Chirac paid a State Visit to the United Kingdom in May 1996

President and Madame Chirac also undertook a Special Visit to mark the centenary of the Entente Cordiale at Windsor Castle in November 2004.