By V. E. K. Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Indulge in the opulence of King Charles's €450,000 lobster dinner in France. Discover how the lavish banquet left the French presidency at a hefty price.
In its annual report on presidential accounts, the Cour des Comptes highlighted that increased spending on state receptions contributed to the budget being €8.3m in deficit. The report emphasized the need for the Elysée to make "significant efforts to restore and sustain the financial balance of the presidency."
Of the total spent on the dinner, over €165,000 was allocated to catering, and another €40,000 to drinks. The star studded banquet at the Palace of Versailles featured guests such as actor Hugh Grant, football manager Arsène Wenger, and Rolling Stones musician Mick Jagger. The menu included blue lobster and crab, followed by Bresse poultry with mushroom gratin, a selection of cheeses including French Comté and British Stichelton blue, and for dessert, a rose macaron cookie with rose petal cream, raspberries, and lychees.
The extravagant event was part of King Charles's three day state visit to France, aimed at reinforcing the alliance between the two countries. Originally scheduled for March, the visit was postponed due to widespread protests over pension reform in major cities.
The report also mentioned a banquet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023 at the Louvre, which cost the presidential office €412,000. The increased spending on such receptions led to a 14% rise in expenditure compared to the previous year, while revenue for the presidency increased by only 6.5%
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