Forced to save - after the luxurious royal dinner

 

King Charles III
The presidential palace is forced to save - after Macron's luxury banquet with King Charles III

Martina Karpmyr

Updated 12.45 | Published 12.29

King Charles and President Macron. Photo: Hollie Adams/AP

French President Emmanuel Macron's banquet for King Charles III last year has resulted in red numbers in the president's annual report.

The luxury banquet in the Palace of Versailles cost the equivalent of just over SEK 5.5 million.

"Significant efforts must be made starting in 2024 to restore and maintain the presidency's financial balance," the report states.

Macron splashed out too much money last year, according to the French audit authority Cour des Comptes' annual report on the finances of the presidential palace Élysées.

The expenses landed last year at the equivalent of just over 1.4 billion kroner - 125 million euros. This includes Macron's various missions, but also personnel costs, security and property management and so on.

In total, the Élysée Palace lost 8.3 million euros, equivalent to 96 million kroner, according to the annual report.

Behind the loss are, among other things, two extravagant dinners – one with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and one with king Charles III.

Blue Lobster at Versailles for King Charles

To strengthen the relationship between France and Britain, Macron invited King Charles and Queen Camilla for a three-day visit last September.

The highlight was a luxury banquet at the Palace of Versailles - where celebrities such as Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and actor Hugh Grant were also invited.

Hugh Grant. Archive image. Photo: Richard Shotwell/AP

At dinner, the guests were served blue lobster, crab, Bresse chicken marinated in champagne and French gratin with mushrooms.

Among the cheeses on the tables were French Comté and English blue Stichelton.

For dessert, macaron cakes with lychee and rose syrup and raspberry compote were served. An array of really expensive wines were also served — including a bottle of 2004 Château Mouton Rothschild, according to  Politico.

The total price tag landed at 475,000 euros, corresponding to approximately SEK 5.5 million.

Queen Camilla and King Charles together with the presidential couple. Photo: Thibault Camus/AP

Dinner at the Louvre with Modi

Another visit, which was almost as expensive, was when Macron received Indian Prime Minister Modi last June. He was invited as a guest of honor when France celebrated its national day.

The visit also ended with a banquet – this time at the Louvre. 200 were invited and the final bill landed at around 400,000 euros, roughly 4.6 million kroner.

Cour des Comptes, on the other hand, that Macron's office has been more frugal when cocktail parties with fewer than 100 guests have been arranged. Then the Élysée Palace's own staff has been used, which is a little cheaper than bringing in someone from outside for serving.

Canceled trip worth over 5.5 million

In the annual report, the Cour des Comptes also criticizes the presidential palace's ability to plan trips.

The travel account shows a loss of over 830,000 euros, corresponding to over 9 million kroner. That's because as many as twelve trips were burned during the year.

Among other things, Macron canceled a planned trip to Germany last July, according to Politico. The trip, which never took place, cost almost 500,000 euros - the equivalent of more than SEK 5.5 million.

"France maintains close diplomatic relations with a large number of countries, which also organize corresponding events when they receive the (French) head of state," the Élysée Palace said after the annual report was published.