If anyone thinks The Queen is slowing down her workload…think again. No sooner had Her Majesty completed her royal duties by presiding over the State Opening of Parliament, enough to exhaust someone even half her age, than she was off to France for an official state visit to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day at Normandy.
The Duke of Edinburgh accompanied Her Majesty as they traveled on the Eurostar. Before their departure however, The Queen and The Duke stopped to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Channel Tunnel at the Eurostar Platform at St Pancras International Station in London by unveiling a commemorative plaque.
The Queen unveils a commemorative plaque alongside Prince Philip just before she boards the Eurostar to Paris
A young girl on the platform at St. Pancras presents Her Majesty with a bouquet of flowers. The look in this little girl’s eyes is priceless. Memories she’ll carry with her forever, no doubt.
Lucky young girl presents The Queen with a floral bouquet ahead of her journey to Paris.
Wearing outfit #1 at the Chunnel 20th Anniversary Ceremony at Eurostar platform, St Pancras station
After the ceremony The Queen and The Duke boarded the Eurostar for the 2 hour 15 minute journey to Paris. But don’t think she had time to relax over a nice hot cuppa..Her Majesty had a wardrobe change! She changed from the lovely cream coat and navy hat she wore at the Eurostar ceremony…to a beautiful lace dress with sequin-trimmed jacket and matching hat for her arrival in Paris~!
The Queen arrives Paris after a 2hr 15 minute journey on the Eurostar and is escorted through Gare du Nord.
Outfit#2: Two hours later The Queen arrives Gare du Nord in Paris wearing her second ensemble of the day.
The Queen was then whisked off to The Arc de Triomphe where the streets were lined with well-wishers as soldiers on horseback escorted her Rolls Royce down the Champs-Élysées where she was welcomed by French president François Hollande.
Soldiers and police officers on motorbikes escort the car carrying The Queen and the French President as it drives down the Champs-Elysees
The streets of the Champs E’lysee were lined with well wishers as The Queen arrives the Arc de Triomphe and is greeted by the French President.
When she emerged from her maroon Rolls Royce, The Queen was wearing her third ensemble of the day, this time a smart pink tweed suit and, of course…the perfectly matching hat. I’m not quite sure how or where she is making these wardrobe changes…but I’m impressed by it all!
Outfit #3: A smart pink tweed suit ensemble with perfectly matching hat.
The Queen and Francois Hollande attended a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe where they paid respects by laying a wreath of flowers.
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arc de Triomphe
The Queen and the French President lay a flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
After the wreath laying ceremony, the Queen and President Hollande were introduced to veterans waiting on the Champs-Élysées. What an emotional and poignant moment for all.
The Queen meets with D-Day Veterans
The Queen next traveled to ElyséePalace, where she and The Duke will stay during their visit, for meetings followed by a garden party at the British Ambassador‘s residence in Paris.
The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and the French President meet for two hours over Anglo-French relations.
The Queen, The French President Francois Hollande, the Duke of Edinburgh and French Minister for Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius, pose outside the Elysee Palace after their meeting.
Day #1 in Paris was wrapped up with a Garden Party celebrating The Queen’s visit hosted by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to France at the British Residence in Paris. The Queen arrived in her fourth ensemble of the day, looking incredibly fresh in a lovely creme coat dress with gold accents. My favorite part of her ensembles, besides her hats, are her brooches.
Her Majesty was escorted onto the lawn to greet guests by Britain’s ambassador to France Sir Peter Ricketts (left) and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Outfit #4: The Garden Party at the British Embassy in France
Still smiling, The Queen shakes hands with Sir Bradley Wiggins, winner of the 2012 Tour de France, accompanied by his wife Catherine.
The Queen greets cycling champ Sir Bradley Wiggens
Four wardrobe changes, three ceremonies, one meeting, a Garden Party and countless handshakes later…the Queen is still smiling! I don’t know how she does it…but next time I’m moaning about being exhausted after ONE activity…I’m going to look at this blog post.
With The Queen still smiling…Prince Philip leans in to seemingly ask, ‘Are we done yet?’
After the reception The Queen returned to the ElyséePalace to rest up for the next day’s activities and the main reason for her visit to France: The 70th Anniversary of D-Day.
God Save The Queen…she is an inspiration, indeed!
Lady Anglophile
