France may be a republican state built on a revolutionary past but the nation retained genuine affection and esteem for the Queen. From President Macron, who delivered a speech in English to express a feeling of “emptiness” following her death, to The Times’s postwoman, who delayed her round to spend 15 minutes voicing her admiration, the sense of fondness was almost universal. SponsoredEven Libération, the left-wing daily that is habitually in the vanguard of anti-royalism, adopted a notably respectful tone as it pointed out that the Queen had enjoyed a solid relationship with France. People gather to pay their respects in Nicerd ERIC GAILLARD/REUTERS• Tributes from around the world — in picturesShe made five state visits to the country, and travelled there on at least ten other occasions, mostly on official business,

Source: The Times September 10, 2022 03:36 UTC