France was the destination of the first of the Queen’s visits in 1957 and on April 20 the ILN published ‘The Royal Visit to France number'.
(Appendix List No. 158). This visit was
to be yet another link in the strong chain of the ‘Entente Cordiale’
between the two countries first forged in 1904. The issue shows the highlights
of the visit which took place between April 8 and April 11. Amongst them
are her welcome by President Coty; the performance at the Paris Opera
House; laying a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de
Triomphe; the State Banquet at the Elysee Palace; the reception at the
Hotel de Ville at Versailles; the spectacular river pageant on the Seine
and the visit to the industrial towns of Lille and Roubaix.
The coloured cover shows a seated Britannia with shield, trident and helmet
and Marianne with sword, shield and Phrygian Cap of Liberty standing behind
her overlooking the Isle de la Cite, the heart of Paris, set in the middle
of the unlikely deep blue waters of the Seine.
This is issue number 6150, vol. 230, pages 609-664, measuring 37 x 26
cm and priced at two shillings.