Guildhall state banquet in honour of The President of the
French Republic and Madame Nicolas Sarkozy
7.00pm on Thursday 27 March 2008 at Guildhall, off Gresham
Street, London, EC2
On Thursday 27 March, in the presence of Duke and Duchess of
Gloucester, the City of London Corporation and the Lord Mayor of
the City of London will host a banquet in honour of the President
of the French Republic and Madame Nicolas Sarkozy.
On his arrival at Guildhall, the President will be greeted by a
Royal Salute, given by the Guard of Honour, and the French national
anthem will be played. The President will then be invited to
inspect the Guard of Honour.
President Sarkozy will speak before dinner, and Lord Mayor David
Lewis will reply after dinner.
The following media opportunities will be available:
- Arrivals on Guildhall Porch - from 7.00pm and inspection of the
Guard of Honour
- Procession into dinner in the Great Hall - approx 7.50pm
- Speech before dinner in the Great Hall - approx 8.00pm
- Speech after dinner in the Great Hall - approx
10.10pm
Press information
Media Facilities:
Due to space constraints, media access to the event will operate
on a pooled basis.
All French media to contact Jean-Claude Tribolet at the French
Embassy on +44 20 7073 1024.
At the Banquet:
- All media must apply for accreditation in advance and
through the pool system.
- Photographers and reporters attending the event are asked to
arrive between 6.30pm and 6.45pm on Thursday 27
March.
- Pre-accredited members of the media should report to the Main
Reception at Guildhall (corner of Gresham Street and Aldermanbury,
EC2), where they will be given their security passes.
- Please ensure that all members of the media are suitably
dressed in dark lounge suits and ties or the
equivalent for ladies.
- Please also ensure that ALL MOBILE PHONES AND BLACKBERRIES are
switched off throughout the event (both inside and outside).
- Regrettably there are no parking facilities
available.
For further information please contact City of London Press
Office - Lesley Mair on 020 7332 1754 (or on the day, mobile 07795
301 502) or Emma Hutchings on 020 7332 1906.