Brimming with multilingual enthusiasm, the Entente Cordiale scholars went to join the Queen in celebrating our mutual friendship.
We assembled at the Couvent des Jacobins in Toulouse centre.
The first words of welcome came from our patrons, Simone Veil (former French minister) and Sir Christopher Mallaby (former British Ambassador to Paris).
We formed a merry band.
Simon Whittaker from Schlumberger represented the sponsors.
Maurice Druon, president of the Académie Française and described as France's leading Anglophile, is an enthusiastic supporter of ours.
There was just time for a quick chat...
...before the arrival of the Royal party.
The Queen was presented to a line of us.
She took the time to say some kind words.
As ever, dressed in an immaculate monochrome with matching hat.
Bernadette Chirac, the wife of the President, was her guide.
Although we thought there was only time for her to talk to half a dozen of us...
... she very generously stayed longer, wanting to talk to as many of us as possible.
This left us more time to gawp at the size of her diamonds.
A final team photo, before we sadly had to begin dispersing across Britain and France again.
