Sarkozy's wife hailed as France's Princess Diana
By Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - The day after splashing pictures of her naked, Britain's tabloids hailed Carla Bruni as a fashion queen who could be the new Princess Diana.
"What a difference a day makes ... and this time she remembered to put some clothes on," trumpeted The Daily Mail, which devoted a six-page spread to France's First Lady.
"Britain is enchanted by Madame Sarkozy," said the Daily Express opposite a picture of the former catwalk star turned singer arriving for a state banquet at Windsor Castle.
Tabloids had welcomed Carla at the start of a state visit with her husband, President Nicolas Sarkozy, on Wednesday by reproducing a nude fashion shot of her taken in the 90s. Bookmakers William Hill quoted odds of 10-1 that Sarkozy would buy the print when it was auctioned next month in New York.
Any moralistic tut-tutting by the popular press was replaced on Thursday by praise for a woman hailed as a demure model of elegance.
"A Good Night for France. The Gaul Scorers," declared The Sun in a front-page spread linking Carla's triumph with France's soccer defeat of England in Paris.
When she arrived in London, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles had planted a kiss on her gloved hand.
"Is Carla the new Diana?" asked The Daily Telegraph. "Presidential aides hope France's First Lady will become their very own Queen of Hearts." Continued...
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