Flowers and cheers greet France's royal guest

FRANCE: Britain's Queen Elizabeth yesterday called on France and Britain to join forces in a "dangerous world" and hailed the…

FRANCE: Britain's Queen Elizabeth yesterday called on France and Britain to join forces in a "dangerous world" and hailed the states' friendship on the second day of a visit meant to break down barriers between the French and British.

On a a three-day trip marking the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale treaty, signed by Britain and France on April 8th, 1904 to end their colonial rivalries, the queen met top government officials and took a stroll at a Paris market.

"In the dangerous world we live in, our two countries have that much to offer if they join their forces," the queen told parliamentarians in France's Senate upper house of parliament.

"Their diplomacy, their military capacities, the permanent seat they hold in the (UN) Security Council and their position in the heart of the Francophonie and the Commonwealth," said the queen.

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The Entente sealed an end to centuries of fighting that culminated in Napoleon's wars and heralded World War alliances between the two biggest European democracies against Germany.

Relations since have often been frosty and the two sides are still patching up differences over the war in Iraq, in which British forces took part and which France opposed loudly.

Earlier yesterday, the queen took a stroll through a Paris market to applause and a few chants of "Long live the queen!".

Wearing a light blue outfit and hat, she walked along the cobbled rue Montorgueil in an old quarter at the heart of the French capital, shaking hands with onlookers.

The queen received flowers from a local florist and a large chocolate Easter egg at the Stohrer cake and pastry-makers, who once served French royalty.

She had lunch with Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who hailed the alliance, which has lasted despite the countries' love-hate relationship.

"I am convinced, as I know you are, that the best way of paying tribute to the history of our nations is to work together to prepare for the future," Mr Raffarin said.

Speaking at the Senate in Paris, the queen said membership of the European Union should not mean that friendship with the US should alter.

The Queen told Senate president Mr Christian Poncelet and Assemblée president Mr Jean-Louis Debré that permanent membership of the UN Security Council was one of the strengths the two nations had to offer.

"We have both made the choice of Europe and the European Union as a principal vehicle for our economic and political aspirations," she said.

"For both of us this does not, nor should not, in any way weaken our strong ties of friendship to the United States. These are complementary relationships.

French Foreign Minister Mr Michel Barnier hailed her speech, saying in English: "Let's celebrate the difference and long live the Entente Cordiale."

The queen was to go to European plane-maker Airbus in Toulouse today. Britain and France co-operate on the project.