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LONDON - The Queen pushed the boat out for Jacques Chirac when he came on a state visit four years ago, importing the entire cast of the West End musical Les Miserables to Windsor Castle.
But when current French President Nicolas Sarkozy is entertained this week, he will have to make do with bagpipes.
Sarkozy will arrive late tomorrow with his wife, Carla Bruni, and his formidable 81-year-old mother, Andree, for a whirlwind state visit. The official banquet in the castle's St George's Hall, attended by senior royals and politicians, will come to a close with a few blasts on the pipes by the Irish Guards.
Bringing your mother is not the usual protocol for a state visit, but Buckingham Palace seems unperturbed, and being just one year younger than the Queen Andree Sarkozy may have much in common with her royal hosts.
She will join the ceremonial carriage procession from a marquee at Windsor and Eton station, where Sarkozy will be welcomed by the Queen and a 21-gun salute, up to Windsor Castle.
The President's party will enjoy a special exhibition of Anglo-French memorabilia in the White Drawing Room.
Though his visit will last barely 24 hours, the President will lunch with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Thursday, attend a UK-France summit at Arsenal's Emirates football stadium, then board a Thames clipper bound for Greenwich, where he will bestow the Legion d'Honneur on British yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur - while his mum looks on.
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