Bonjour, mon petit

François Hollande has been in London on an official visit. Turns out the French have come up with another shorty. Although his election publicity puts him at 5cm taller than his predecessor (presumably without Sarko wearing his heels), he appears a little altitude-challenged.

There is a healthy rivalry between the two countries at these events, and as well as having a bodyguard of the Coldstream Guards, a regiment which fought at Waterloo and later occupied Paris, he was conducted conducted by the superb figure of Major James Coleby, against whom he looked like one of those children that footballers bring on to the pitch at the start of a match.

The French Press are claiming he was tricked and that Sarko would have avoided the encounter.