Queen Elizabeth II's Moving and Funny Speech on Anglo-French Relations (1996)

the relationship has been to be frank occasionally less than friendly often competitive but always respectful for centuries Now France and Britain have been the home for and the champions of human [Music] freedom [Music] [Music] let [Music] [Music] sh [Music] for [Music] [Music] ch [Music] h for your Excellency it is a special pleasure to welcome you and Madame Shirak to Britain as our guests at Buckingham Palace I am fortunate enough to be able to recall the visits of five of your predecessors and my own forage visits to France on the last one I remember particularly your own Splendid Hospitality as mayor of Paris that city that has aptly been called laes but each visit was in its way way uniquely enjoyable and so will this one be for us and I hope for you it is perhaps a truism to say that our country's histories have long been entwined the relationship has been to be frank occasionally less than friendly often competitive but always respectful in this last century we have formed a strong and permanent partnership standing together through two world wars and The Long Winter of the Cold War and then working together to liberate Kuwait and to end the conflict in Bosnia as general deul said in 1941 for centuries Now France and Britain have been the home for and the champions of human Freedom we will continue to stand with you in the United Nations the European Union and NATO as a partner with World interests we shall with you go on confronting the threats from terrorism drugs and international crime we have what Churchill described as strong bond of affection Mutual confidence common interest and similar Outlook his words are still true today it is said sometimes that the United Kingdom has a transatlantic rather than a European vocation in fact we have both it could hardly be otherwise since we are like you members of the European Union the Western European union and the Council of Europe and the channel tunnel which I inaugurated with your predecessor brings us even closer travel business and trade are thriving between us more especially we share your desire to bring together the Youth of our two countries through exchanges and scholarships for the future of our friendship lies there France has always made a special contribution to the cultural values of our world our admiration for your country her people her culture and her language is undiminished as everyone who has seen the cues outside the Tate Gallery waiting to enter the hugely successful cesan exhibition will testify there is a French theater season in Britain to look forward to next year and the Paris London festival for the Millennium we hope that parisians will enjoy the two major British exhibitions which will be opening in Paris next month but our cultural relationship is so close and goes back so far that it can almost be taken for granted I am especially pleased therefore that while you are here you will see examples of how Britain is changing to face the more material challenges which we share with you the competitiveness of our Financial Centers the new strength of British manufacturing the Regeneration of our inner cities all tell of our determination that our young people should have a bright future some things though do not change and I hope that you will be able to appreciate them too the beauty of this country and the warmth with which we welcome our friends as we look towards a new century and a new millennium let us together summon up the same greatness of spirit in the cuse of peace and prosperity which we have showed in the past Century of war and confrontation let us renew our resolve to work together as the firmest of friends and the closest of Partners I wish you and Madame sharak a very happy visit to this country may I now ask everyone to raise their glasses and drink a toast his Excellency the president of the French Republic Madame sherak and the government and people of [Music] France [Music] for [Music] Pres [Applause]

Channel: ITN Archive

Views: 38,147

Keywords: royal family, queen elizabeth ii, queen elizabeth, british royal family, elizabeth ii, queen elizabeth funny, queen funny, queen elizabeth funny moments, queen elizabeth ii funny moments, queen elizabeth interview, queen elizabeth speech, queen elizabeth funny speech, elizabeth ii speech, queen elizabeth ii speech

Id: zb5vg6lHez8

Length: 11min 18sec (678 seconds)

Published: Mon Apr 08 2024