Hosting King Charles III for a lavish lobster dinner cost the French president’s office €475,000, £400,000, according to the country’s audit office, the Cour des Comptes.
Entertaining the King of England proved to be an expensive affair for France, as President Emmanuel Macron spared no expense for the monarch’s visit in September.
The extravagant dinner featured blue lobster, crab, and a variety of cheeses.
In its annual report on presidential accounts, the Cour des Comptes highlighted that higher spending on state receptions contributed to a budget deficit of €8.3 million, $9 million, for the Élysée Palace.
The lavish dinner at the Palace of Versailles, attended by around 180 guests who enjoyed blue lobster, crab cakes, and champagne-marinated chicken, significantly impacted the budget.
The auditor revealed that the Élysée Palace’s expenses totaled €125 million, $136 million, in 2023, marking a 14% increase from the previous year.
The watchdog, which oversees presidential finances, including spending on staff, security, and diplomatic duties, emphasized the need for the Élysée to make “significant efforts… to restore and sustain the financial balance of the presidency.”
This overspending was part of a broader French government budget deficit in 2023, prompting criticism from the European Union.
The state dinner’s costs included over €166,000, $180,000, for catering and €42,000, $46,000, for drinks, along with expenses for furniture, flowers, and table decorations.
Guests such as actor Hugh Grant, football manager Arsene Wenger, and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger were treated to a menu that included blue lobster and crab, followed by Bresse poultry and mushroom gratin.
The dinner also featured a course of cheeses, including French Comté and British Stichelton blue, and a dessert of rose macaroon cookies with rose petal cream, raspberries, and lychees.
King Charles’ three-day state visit to France, which included the lavish banquet at the Palace of Versailles, aimed to reinforce the alliance between the two countries.
Originally scheduled for March, the visit was postponed due to widespread protests over pension reform in major cities.
The report also mentioned a July 2023 banquet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Louvre, which cost the presidential office €412,000.
The audit office noted that such high spending contributed to a 14% increase in expenditure compared to the previous year, while the presidency’s revenue only saw a 6.5% gain.
