I said a few days ago that I didn’t understand why Her Majesty’s finances were the subject of so much scrutiny when other Heads of State also spent a lot on entertaining. I didn’t actually expect such a speedy response.
A French socialist MP is questioning the cost of last year’s garden party at the Elysee Palce on 14th July. Compared with the figures in the millions I’ve seen quoted for entertaining the pope at a Holyrood garden party shortly, I think we ought to get the Elysee’s caterers in!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Sheona: don’t forget about Obama’s NYC dinner-date with his wife which cost several million dollars as he chose to take the presidential jet requiring that a wing of JFK International had to be temporarily closed to serve him or his Olympics sojourn to Denmark (which fortunately Brazil won).
Yes Christopher, it makes HM look very good value for money.
Sorry don’t read frog well enough to bother!
Christina, the basic fact is in my second paragraph. Questions have been asked about the cost to the public purse of this garden party. I put the link up for anyone who wanted to check my facts. A certain Irish gentleman once kept on criticising what I was writing about a scandal involving the French rugby team in New Zealand. I had to put up link after link after link before he was satisfied I was not making it all up. Now I do it automatically.
Well thank God he’s gone elsewhere!
I wouldn’t doubt it, the British always seem to be able to make everything as expensive as possible, compared with here the cost of living is positively ruinous!
Jolly glad I’ve left, could never get out of Tescos for less than £200, plus the butcher and fishmonger and local bits and pieces. Bills here nearly half! Admittedly I have the veg patch but
I really have never been able to see how the UK can justify the prices considering the earnings.
CO, what exchange rate are you using?