Entente truly cordiale for "Bling-Bling" Sarkozy

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - The French and the English once settled their bloody differences on the battlefield.

That evolved into a love-hate relationship based on mutual mistrust with the French mocking "les rosbifs" and the English lampooning "the frogs".

But now, with interdependence reigning supreme in an ever shrinking global village, the entente could not be more cordiale as Queen Elizabeth prepares to welcome France's flamboyant new President Nicolas Sarkozy to Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac was renowned for his testy clashes with former British leader Tony Blair.

He said scornfully of the British "you can never trust people with such terrible food" and called Anglo-French relations "a turbulent love affair."

In sharp contrast, Sarkozy has been an open admirer of Britain, praising its buoyant economy and flexible workforce.

And after his turbulent love affair with supermodel Carla Bruni, all eyes will be on France's newly-wed First Lady.

Celebrity-obsessed British tabloids are bound to have a field day covering the woman who counts pop icons Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton among her former lovers.