A “luxurious meal” costing 475,000 euros, which apparently blew the budget of the Presidential Palace of the Elysees, was arranged for the King of the United Kingdom Charles III by Emmanuel Macron, resulting in a high deficit of 8.3 million euros last year.

France’s love of spectacle, spectacular events and lavish food is on full display in the pages of an annual audit of the Elysées budget, released on Monday by the Cour des Comptes, France’s highest audit court.

As Politico points out in its related article, the expenses include expenses related to diplomatic and presidential duties, as well as administration, personnel, security and property management and reached 125 million euros.

Characteristically large expenses related to the aforementioned deficit were two lavish state dinners, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Charles III.

Macron hosted the British King in September last year at Versailles, the historic home of the French monarchy, for a celebration with at least 160 guests, including Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and British actor Hugh Grant.

The dinner, during which guests enjoyed macaroons with blue lobster and rose cost the French presidency almost 475,000 euros — including expenses of 165,000 euros for catering and more than 40,000 euros for wine (among the labels selected was that of a bottle Château Mouton Rothschild of 2004) and other drinks.

For Charles and Modi, the French presidency spent another 400,000 euros on catering and decorating receptions outside the Elysee.

However, the French Court of Auditors recognized some cost-saving efforts, underlining the austerity under whose regime they are “cocktails for less than 100 people» and events where Palace kitchen staff are usually preferred over outside partners.

The Cour des Comptes also criticized the French presidency’s poor travel planning skills, pointing to a loss of more than 830,000 euros caused by the cancellation of 12 trips, money that is apparently not refundable.

A planned but then canceled trip to Germany in July 2023 alone resulted in a loss of almost €500,000, mainly due to the costs of transport and accommodation incurred.

The Élysée, when asked to comment on the report, replied: “France maintains close diplomatic relations with a large number of countries, which organize corresponding events when they welcome the Head of State».