Lobster for half a million Banquet with King Charles tears a hole in Macron's budget

In the fall of 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron received King Charles for a state visit. The two enjoyed themselves. The banquet for the 160 guests alone is said to have cost 475,000 euros.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British King Charles enjoyed themselves during a state banquet in September 2023.

Together with 160 guests - including Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant - the celebrity duo dined at the Palace of Versailles, the former seat of the French Sun King Louis XIV.

Anyone who dines in such a glamorous place wants to do so in a truly sumptuous manner: among other things, blue lobster, Bresse chicken and a cheese aged for 30 months were served.

Two state banquets are to blame for the red figures

After the French Court of Auditors, the Cour de Comptes, published its annual report on the budget of the Office of the President this week, it is now clear that so much good has its price.

According to the report, the Élysée Palace's deficit amounts to around 8.3 million euros.

Two state banquets in particular are said to be to blame for the deep red figures - the aforementioned dinner for King Charles and the one for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last June.

The dinner with King Charles cost 475,000 euros

The dinner with Charles and his entourage is said to have cost around 475,000 euros. How were these high costs put together?

The catering alone cost 166,000 euros. In addition, there were expenses for wine and other drinks amounting to 42,000 euros. The furniture and other materials used were charged at 90,000 euros.

In contrast, the dinner with the Indian president at the Louvre Palace in Paris was comparatively inexpensive. It was billed at 412,000 euros.

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