(AFP) – Mar 26, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to open a new chapter in ties with Britain on Wednesday as he received a red-carpet welcome on a state visit to London with his glamorous new wife.

Sarkozy also hopes the two-day trip will help repair his image as a statesman, following a slump in opinion polls at home fueled by criticism of his style during his recent marital ups-and-downs.

But much attention was focused on model-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who he married in February and who is accompanying him on a visit which includes a formal banquet with Queen Elizabeth II.

On the political front, Sarkozy is expected to discuss increasing French military forces in Afghanistan with Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as possible cooperation on bolstering Britain's nuclear energy industry.

The French leader and his new wife -- dressed in a sober grey outfit with matching beret -- were greeted by Prince Charles and his second wife Camilla at Heathrow airport's royal suite.

The heir to the British throne kissed the French first lady's gloved hand after she stepped on to the red carpet covering the tarmac, drawing a smile.

The couple were then driven to nearby Windsor Castle and were welcomed by the British monarch and her husband, Prince Philip, under a dais decked out in the red, blue and white colours of the two nations' flags.

Sarkozy, who addresses a rare joint sitting of both houses of parliament later Wednesday, exchanged a few words with the queen, who speaks good if accented French, as crowds of tourists looked on.

The visitors stood for "God Save The Queen" and "La Marseillaise" national anthems before a 22-gun salute and a horse-drawn carriage to the castle, which is on the site of an original built by William of Normandy in the 1070s.

Both Sarkozy and Brown said they hoped for a new era in Franco-British relations after centuries of mutual suspicion and a more recent chill between former leaders Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair over the 2003 Iraq war.

"It has been long enough now that we have not been at war, that we are not wrangling," Sarkozy told BBC radio in an interview broadcast before his arrival.

"Perhaps we can move from being cordial to being friendly... We are stronger if we work hand-in-hand," he said in translated comments, in a play on the traditional phrase of "entente cordiale" between France and Britain.

Brown also adopted a more conciliatory tone, telling parliament during his weekly question time that London and Paris had "a good deal in common and a shared agenda for the future" and his talks with Sarkozy would be constructive.

"The 'entente cordiale' is moving into a new era and I hope all sides of this House will welcome this but it does require Britain to be at the centre of Europe not isolated from it," he added.

The summit at the home of English Premier League side Arsenal -- who have a French manager, Arsene Wenger, and several French players -- would see energy, the environment, security and economic reform discussed, he added.

Sarkozy said France's commitment to the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan would also be on the agenda, saying it was a battle NATO could not afford to lose. He also refused to rule out sending 1,000 more troops there.

The president and prime minister are expected to announce a deal for France to supply technology to help Britain build a new generation of nuclear power plants.

Regardless of the politics, most of the photographers' lenses will be trained on Bruni-Sarkozy, 40.

A number of British tabloid newspapers on Wednesday published a full-frontal nude photograph of her dating from 1993, to be sold by Christie's auction house. Elysee aides declined to comment on the publication.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »