A sumptuous lobster dinner for King Charles III cost the French president’s office €475,000 (£400,000), according to France’s audit office.
President Emmanuel Macron is pulling out all the stops for the monarch’s September visit – Guests can enjoy blue lobster, crab and a variety of cheeses.
But the French court warned in its annual report on the presidential accounts that increased state hospitality spending had led to an 8.3 million euro deficit in its budget.
The Elysée Palace now needs to “make significant efforts… to restore and maintain the financial balance of the president’s finances,” the report said.
Of the dinner expenses, more than 165,000 euros were spent on meals and another 40,000 euros on drinks.
Guests at the star-studded banquet – including actor Hugh Grant, football manager Arsene Wenger and Rolling Stone’s Mick Jagger – were treated to a menu of blue lobster and crab, followed by a Brass poultry and mushroom roast .
There’s also a dish – including French Comté cheese and British Sticchelton blue cheese.
Dessert was rose macaroons, consisting of rose petal cream, raspberries and lychees.
The lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles was part of King Charles’ three-day state visit to France to strengthen the important alliance between the two countries.
It was originally scheduled to be held in March, but delayed It comes after widespread protests over pension reform hit major cities.
The report mentions not only the king’s visit, but also a banquet held for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023 at the Louvre, where the presidential office cost 412,000 euros.
The audit office said spending was up 14% from the previous year due to increased spending, including on state hospitality.
In contrast, income increased by only 6.5% during the president’s term.
