Mathilde de GERMAIN

Diplomat 🇨🇵 @franceintheuk @francediplo Previously in Moscow 🇷🇺 @FranceEnRussie personal account. RT not endorsement.

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

Minister Delegate for Europe, @benjaminhaddad, met his counterpart @HFalconerMP in London yesterday to discuss areas of mutual interests. Let's forge stronger, balanced EU-UK relations together. 🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇺

[Institut français UK @ifru_london]

#BeyondBayeux with @KMFollett at the French Institute!

The internationally best-selling author will discuss how the Bayeux Tapestry influenced his book 'The Evening and the Morning' before a Q&A.

📅 14 October - 19.00 @ifru_london @LIBRAIRIELAPAGE
👉 https://t.co/5VSS1XvC65

[Institut français UK @ifru_london]

Beyond Bayeux - Stories from the Middle Ages

The Bayeux Tapestry comes to life at the French Institute with a season of events echoing the landmark Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the @britishmuseum .

📅 Oct - July 2026
👉 https://t.co/tEldADBIAo

#BeyondBayeux #FrenchInstituteUK

[Jean-Noël Barrot @jnbarrot]

Je suis à New York, aux Nations unies, et j’ai une excellente nouvelle à vous communiquer. ↓

Le Royaume-Uni devient le 128e pays à rejoindre le combat que je porte, que la France porte avec le Mexique, pour protéger les populations civiles contre les atrocités de masse.

Comment ? En proposant de suspendre le recours au veto pour les membres permanents du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies face aux cas de génocide, de crimes contre l'humanité et de crimes de guerre commis à grande échelle.

Le veto ne doit pas empêcher les Nations unies d'agir pour protéger les vies humaines.

Le soutien du Royaume-Uni nous donne une force supplémentaire pour convaincre d'autres pays de rejoindre cette initiative.

[Mathilde de GERMAIN @Mathilde2Germ1]

So true. Merci!

[Barendina Smedley @fugitiveink]

Yesterday I went to see the Bayeux Tapestry. Here are some reflections:

- The tapestry is extraordinary, unlike anything I’ve seen before, and unforgettable. Although I spend a lot of time reading about Anglo-Saxons and Anglo-Normans, so was more than familiar with all the images, nothing prepared me for entering into the presence of this age-old, in many ways mysterious, borderline numinous thing.

- For reasons I can’t adequately explain, my first glimpse of the tapestry was an intensely emotional experience. Looking around at my fellow visitors, I was clearly not alone in this.

- There has been much discourse about “the queue”. I can only speak for myself, but when we arrived for a 10.30 am viewing, there was virtually no queue going into the exhibition.

- Once inside the exhibition, yes, there was about 25 minutes of standing about before we were in front of the tapestry. But this was very well handled. Passing through a long, darkened corridor, the time was spent reading beautifully-presented introductory material, looking at a few well-chosen objects - and also (sorry, but this is important for someone with cataracts) becoming accustomed to the (understandably) low-light conditions.

- While “the queue” exists for self-evidently practical reasons, the darkness, the (calming, solemn, slightly wistful) music and building sense of anticipation also had the effect of shutting out the outside world, slowing us down, and preparing us for the ultimate revelation of the tapestry. No one had their phones out. Increasingly, our worlds narrowed to what was immediately ahead of us. For me, anyway, the experience would have been less powerful without it.

- Yes, I know that for many years the tapestry could be visited in Bayeux with much less fuss. But not everyone travels. Warmest thanks to the French government for this very kind loan.

- Were we hurried along in front of the tapestry rather more quickly than I might have liked? Inevitably so. I could have spent hours there. Plenty of people want to see the tapestry, though, and that’s wonderful - we should all spend more time thinking about Anglo-Normans! - so I’m not going to complain about this.

- The tapestry itself is indescribably fascinating. My companion didn’t know the tapestry or its context, but was still drawn into the story, the force of the narrative, the sheer skill of presentation - he wanted to see what would happen next. The details are compulsively engaging. The battle scenes are genuinely horrific. The tapestry still “works”.

- It is also very beautiful - all the more so for the little tears, mends and missing bits. The coincidence of enormous age with irrepressible vitality is intoxicating.

- Seeing the tapestry at full length has the effect of allowing the narrative its natural momentum. Even very good photographs (as in the very admirable exhibition catalogue) cannot do this. Seeing the tapestry in real life is very different from all the alternatives.

- Finally, the @britishmuseum is to be praised for the tone of the exhibition. They could, I suppose, have gone with a much more jolly, popular, dumbed-down treatment. Instead - rather unusually at the moment - the approach is one that fosters genuine, non-ironic awe in the face of this unique, peerless object. Indeed, the whole process of standing in the queue, of quiet waiting, culminating in a brief encounter with something ancient yet powerful was extremely reminiscent of an act of (secular) pilgrimage. For whatever reason, people are drawn to this in vast numbers. (Other institutions, custodians of old yet powerful things and places, might wish to take note.)

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

With President @EmmanuelMacron and my team @FranceintheUK at the French residence in London. Grateful to the remarkable collective effort behind the State Visit and the 37th 🇫🇷🇬🇧 Summit.

Thanks & congrats to my wonderful team for the organisation of this historical State Visit!

[Jean-Noël Barrot @jnbarrot]

Grand bravo à @AmbDuchene et à la formidable équipe de notre ambassade à Londres - @FranceintheUK - pour l'organisation de la visite d'État du Président de la République et la réussite du sommet franco-britannique.

[French Embassy UK🇫🇷🇪🇺 @FranceintheUK]

On this International #WomenInDiplomacy Day, we pay tribute to all those who, at every level, help bring diplomacy to life. Today we give the floor to several women diplomats, sharing what inspired their commitment to this path.

[Mathilde de GERMAIN @Mathilde2Germ1]

Faites de la musique ! 🎼🎷
@ifru_london tonight https://t.co/2uFy28ooxY

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

Today is the Fête de la musique. All over France, people are singing and playing music. I'm delighted to hear that so many British people are coming to France for the event! #FetedelaMusique #MusicDay

[Mathilde de GERMAIN @Mathilde2Germ1]

De-escalate

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Much of the international community is continuing calls for de-escalation in the Middle East.

Speaking to our political editor @BethRigby, the French ambassador to the UK called on both sides to step back.

Israel-Iran live: https://t.co/FZ5QW8m5aM

[Mathilde de GERMAIN @Mathilde2Germ1]

A military intervention poses serious risks at the nuclear level

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

I spoke to @BethRigby about the situation in #Iran. Military action is not the solution to eliminate the threat of the Iranian nuclear programme.

We should be focused on diplomatic efforts to find a path towards de-escalation.

Full interview ➡️ https://t.co/Sn4C4ySOfW

[Mathilde de GERMAIN @Mathilde2Germ1]

Congratulations to our newly-appointed 🇫🇷🇬🇧diplomats

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

I was delighted to welcome newly-appointed 🇫🇷 & 🇬🇧 diplomats, who represent the future of the bilateral relationship, at a time when our 🇫🇷🇬🇧 cooperation is so important. They also met @franceintheuk diplomats, who shared their experience and insights.

[Sébastien Bidaud @sebastienbidaud]

15 years after Lancaster House Treaties signature, a milestone in 🇬🇧🇫🇷 cooperation, strengthening European security alongside our partners & allies to ensure a peaceful & safe Europe ! 2/2

[Sébastien Bidaud @sebastienbidaud]

Delighted to represent @AmbDuchene in Plymouth with @RoyalNavy, OCCAR, and @ThalesUK to mark the delivery of the first Maritime Mines Counter Measures(MCMM) drone system. 1/2

[French Embassy UK🇫🇷🇪🇺 @FranceintheUK]

On 9 January 2025, French President @emmanuelmacron met UK Prime Minister @keirstarmer at Chequers.

➡️On the agenda: international issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, strengthening UK-EU relations, and preparations for the upcoming Franco-British summit.

#diplomacy

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

Delighted to attend the annual reception of the Franco-British Lawyers Society in @UKHouseofLords in the presence of Procureur général @Courdecassation Rémy Heitz & the Rt Hon Lady Arden. An opportunity to highlight @fblsajfb's work promoting exchanges between lawyers in 🇫🇷& 🇬🇧.

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

Engaging and fruitful discussion with UK Home Secretary @YvetteCooperMP yesterday at the @ukhomeoffice.
We are both committed to strengthening 🇫🇷🇬🇧cooperation on security, migration and cross-border issues for the benefit of our citizens.

[Hélène Duchêne @AmbDuchene]

Fascinating to chat to #Oscars nominees Demi Moore & @coraliefargeat ahead of a special screening of The Substance at @ifru_london on Sunday.

I wish you both well at #Oscars2025... C'est une joie de voir le cinéma 🇫🇷 briller à Hollywood ! #MakeItIconic

[PLANTU Officiel @plantu]

Rue Vimoutiers (Paris 13eme). Merci au graffeur Nilko, à la Mairie et aux habitants de l’immeuble.

[Mathilde de GERMAIN @Mathilde2Germ1]

A very happy new year to our British friends! Long live the Franco-British friendship!🇫🇷🇬🇧

[French Embassy UK🇫🇷🇪🇺 @FranceintheUK]

As the 120th anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale draws to a close, @AmbDuchene wishes you a very Happy New Year 2025 and looks forward to a strengthened 🇫🇷🇬🇧 relationship in the year to come!

#EntenteCordiale120