Latest news with #Marie-Antoinette
LeMonde
4 days ago
- LeMonde
French museums plan to raise admission fees for non-European visitors
It was to be expected. The announcement that the Louvre would introduce a special €30 admission price for non-European visitors as of January 1, 2026, has had a domino effect. According to Le Monde 's sources, this distinction between Europeans and non-Europeans will also be tested at the Château de Versailles (Paris region), at a monument managed by the National Monuments Center (CMN) – either the Arc de Triomphe or the Conciergerie, both in Paris – at the Château de Chambord, a castle in the Loire Valley (central France), as well as at Paris' Opéra Garnier. A source at the Culture Ministry said they were convinced that tourists who have come from afar would not hesitate to pay any price to step back in time with Marie-Antoinette, take a selfie with the Mona Lisa, or enjoy panoramic views of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe. This measure is expected to be extended to other sites in 2027. The goal is clear: to raise money, at a time when budget cuts threaten public subsidies, sponsorship has been drying up, and construction costs are soaring. At the Château de Versailles, which is always seeking funds to repair a cracked pool, restore a neglected grove, or fix a leaking roof, non-European visitors represent 42% of the monument's 8 million annual visitors.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
The Royal house guests from hell - including the visitor who made Queen Elizabeth II 'angrier than ever' - revealed in new Mail podcast
As the Royal Family prepare to welcome Donald Trump on a state visit to Britain, the Mail has been exploring the history of VVIPs who have received the grandest welcome the country can bestow. And not all of them have left a favourable impression on their hosts. Some were disasters. In this week's episode of the hit podcast, Queen's Kings and Dastardly Things, Mail columnist Robert Hardman and historian Professor Kate Williams discuss how one guest appalled the late Queen by smuggling a dog inside Buckingham Palace. It was the 1970s, when the whole of Europe was fighting the scourge of the killer disease, rabies, spread by the bite of an infected animal. Britain had managed to stay rabies-free due to draconian rules on animal movements. This included holding pet dogs in a strict six month quarantine to make sure they were rabies free. In 1973, the Tory Government of Edward Heath invited the African dictator President Mobutu of Zaire, to Britain in the hope of securing lucrative contracts for a new power plant. The despot arrived for his state visit with his wife who shared a name with another infamous leader's spouse - Marie-Antoinette. No sooner had the couple arrived at the palace the royal kitchen received a call from Marie-Antoinette asking a footman - not to bring cake - but a plate of raw meat. The palace staff were slightly baffled by the request but nevertheless obliged and made their way to the Belgian suite at Buckingham Palace where the couple were saying. President Mobutu visited Britain for a state visit in 1973 in the hopes the UK could secure lucrative deals to construct a new power plant When the servant dropped off the food, he discovered that this honoured guest had somehow smuggled a small pet dog in her luggage. This was reported to Queen Elizabeth II who was so vexed by their behaviour that multiple members of palace staff claimed they had never seen her so angry. Her instant response was to 'get that dog out of my house' and for their own safety the Queen's beloved corgis were whisked off to Windsor. It completely spoiled the atmosphere of the trip and caused a minor diplomatic incident which Mobutu tried to explain away during a speech at 10 Downing Street. He claimed that his wife's pet pooch was of British heritage and she wanted to show the dog its homeland. To round off what was a pretty disastrous state visit, Mobutu went home to Zaire with £1million as a down payment for the power plant but the UK never received the contracts. This week's podcast also delves into the story of the Shah who cooked a sheep in his rooms and the bizarre moment Jimmy Carter tried to snog the Queen Mother.
Euronews
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Paris Olympics memorabilia sale raises more than €200,000 for charity
ADVERTISEMENT About 200 memorabilia from the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games have been auctioned, raising €228,000 for charity during an event that brought together fans , professional collectors and museums. Items up for grabs on Sunday included five Olympic torches that were used for months throughout the long relay from Olympia in Greece to the French capital in the lead-up to the Games. The torches fetched between €12,000 and €20,000 each. The auction also featured pieces from the historic opening ceremony of the Olympics. With 12 acts, torrential rain and enormous controversy surrounding the presence of drag queens , the parade created many memorable moments. The red dress worn by the performer dressed as a beheaded Marie-Antoinette, who sang a revolutionary song out the window of the Conciergerie, was sold for €832. Among the main buyers was a national sports museum from the southern French city of Nice. The institution spent €2,300 to buy the wreath and garlands of fake fruits and flowers worn by Philippe Katerine during the ceremony. The French singer had appeared from under a silvery cloche (also auctioned off), almost naked and covered in blue body paint, in a cosplay of Greek god Dionysus. Zinedine Zidane carries the Olympic flame in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. Robert F. Bukaty/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved The Nice museum also purchased the costume of the mysterious masked torchbearer who ran along the Seine, from one iconic monument to the next, during the ceremony. The costume was aspired by popular elements of French culture, including the Phantom of the Opera , gentleman burglar Arsène Lupin, and the video game Assassin's Creed . The auction also showcased 20 iterations of the beloved Olympic mascot Phryge , from the little stuffed toys given to Olympic medallists to full-size costumes. One online bidder purchased two miniature Olympic and Paralympic Phryge for €3,200 and €1,408 respectively. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to three charities promoting parasport and physical exercise for hospital patients.
