Hosting royalty comes at a high cost, as demonstrated by France's recent extravagant state dinner for King Charles III of England. The lavish lobster dinner held at the Palace of Versailles last September incurred a staggering expense of nearly €475,000 ($515,000) for the French president's office, as revealed by France's public auditor.
The opulent affair, attended by approximately 180 guests, featured a menu of blue lobster, crab cakes, and champagne-marinated chicken. This event contributed to an €8.3 million ($9 million) deficit in the Élysée Palace's budget for the year, marking a 14% increase in expenses compared to the previous year.
The overspending at the Élysée Palace was part of a larger French government budget deficit in 2023, prompting a reprimand from the European Union. The state dinner costs included over €166,000 ($180,000) for catering, €42,000 ($46,000) for drinks, and additional expenses for furniture, flowers, and decorations.
King Charles and Queen Camilla graced the banquet during their three-day state visit to France, which had been delayed due to public protests over pension reforms. The event was attended by notable figures like Mick Jagger, Hugh Grant, and Arsene Wenger, held in the historic Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
The audit office cautioned that significant financial adjustments are necessary to restore the presidency's financial balance, citing another costly state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Louvre, amounting to €412,000 ($447,000).
France's budget deficit, standing at 5.5% of GDP last year, has drawn criticism from the European Union, given its high debt-to-GDP ratio of nearly 111%. The country faces pressure to address its financial challenges and maintain fiscal stability moving forward.
