The Sarkozys turn on the charm in Britain

She came. She curtsied. She conquered.

Chic Carla Bruni-Sarkozy -- like a cross between a Catholic schoolgirl and Jackie O according to one fashion writer -- won the hearts of the British public, and the media, with her grace and the demure grey outfits she chose, stylishly reflecting the color of Windsor Castle and the traditionally sullen British skies.

As for the 1993 pictures of the president's bride in her birthday suit, predictably recycled by the British tabloids, members of the public I encountered were universally on Carla's side. "Typical media" they sniffed. "That was then, this is now. Good luck to her."

At times the visit has been almost a case of "the president came too."

It reminded me of when President John F. Kennedy, on tour in Europe at the time First Lady Jackie Kennedy was an international fashion icon, thanked his hosts in one city for "allowing me to accompany my wife here."

But Monsieur Sarkozy, determined to bury the image of the "President Bling Bling" in shades and chunky watches amid the pomp and pageantry the British do so well, scored his own success too with a fiery speech to lawmakers calling not just for entente cordiale but for a new fraternite or brotherhood between the two nations.

His passionate oration earned him a genuine standing ovation from the hard-boiled parliamentarians.

Source : cnn.om