Queen Elizabeth II holds banquet for Sarkozy at Windsor Castle

(26 Mar 2008) SHOTLIST

1. Wide of banquet
2. Queen Elizabeth II and French President Nicolas Sarkozy walking into banquet room followed by other dignitaries
3. Queen Elizabeth II and Sarkozy sitting down at table
4. Side shot of dignitaries sitting down
5. Various of Sarkozy and Queen Elizabeth II at table
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Queen Elizabeth II (++part overlaid by wide shot of banquet hall++):
"Mr President, Madame Sarkozy: it is a particular pleasure to welcome you both as our guests to Windsor castle this evening, on the first day of your state visit to the United Kingdom. There have of course been many state visits between our countries over the centuries, starting with the famous encounter between Francis I and Henry VIII of the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520. This respectful yet competitive relationship between our two countries has been clear to see on many occasions in the intervening years. Both countries are rightly proud, and sometimes perhaps even a little jealous, of our respective histories and of our contributions to global customs, business practices and cultures. Contributions which far outweigh our geographical size."
7. Close of Sarkozy listening to queen's speech
8. Sarkozy and Queen Elizabeth II standing up for French national anthem
9. Wide of banquet during French national anthem being played
10. Mid of banquet, Sarkozy standing up
11. SOUNDBITE: (French) Nicolas Sarkozy, French President:
"Ma'am, such warm words of welcome that your majesty has just expressed went straight to my heart, I thank you Ma'am as I thank you for your invitation to come to the UK for a state visit and more particularly for inviting me here to this magnificent Castle of Windsor, for each of us it is like a dream to visit Windsor. We can now say that we have been here."
12. Wide of banquet hall as British national anthem is being played
13. Various of dignitaries listening
14. Various of dignitaries raising glasses for toast
15. Wide of banquet

STORYLINE

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni attended an official state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

Wearing a white tie and a red sash, Sarkozy toasted the British monarch at a lavish state banquet at the castle's St George's Hall.

"For each of us it is like a dream to visit Windsor. We can now say that we have been here," Sarkozy said, raising his glass to the queen and to the "brotherhood" of French and British people.

Queen Elizabeth, meanwhile, recounted previous historical state visits my French and English monarchs, saying the two countries are "rightly proud, and sometimes perhaps even a little jealous, of our respective histories and of our contributions to global customs, business practices and cultures."

Sarkozy's 36-hour trip is the first state visit to Britain by a French president in 12 years.

The queen has bestowed Sarkozy with the Order of the Bath, a ceremonial British honour, and gave him a framed book of British stamps, her office said.

In return, the French leader offered her a copy of "Perfect Knowledge Of Horses," a book published in France in 1743.

With France worried about a stagnant economy, Sarkozy's approval ratings have dropped to around 40 percent from a high of around 65 percent in July.

The opportunity to appear presidential during his visit to Britain could give him a domestic boost, French analysts claim.


Ministers plan to use the summit to discuss slow progress on a joint call for a 26,000-strong peacekeeping unit of UN and African Union troops for

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