Two Royal Navy vessels have sailed into the centre of Paris to mark the 120th anniversary of the long-standing agreement between the UK and France.
Patrol boats HMS Dasher and Trumpeter have been invited to the French capital to celebrate the Entente Cordiale, taking part in a series of international events during three days in the city, berthed near the Pont Mirabeau, 800m from the Eiffel Tower.
It took the two vessels – which were involved in D-Day 80 commemorations on both sides of the Channel – four days to sail 230 miles up the Seine into the heart of Paris. They were helped on the challenging passage by an embarked French Navy officer.
The vessels also took part in a maritime parade at Conflans St Honorine, 40 miles downstream of Paris, where crew were introduced to the local mayor.
And in the capital, the sailors were hosted both at the residence of British Ambassador Menna Rawlings and by the city’s branch of the Royal Naval Association.
The patrol boats’ 12-day trip up/down the Seine concludes later this week in Le Havre, where they will stage a formal reception for Ms Rawlings and other VIPs.
“This trip has been a career highlight,” said Lieutenant Emma Morley, HMS Trumpeter’s Commanding Officer. “Taking part in commemorative events for D-Day 80 and then sailing a ship up the Seine in support of the Entente Cordiale are things I’ve always dreamed of doing and I’m really proud of my ship’s company for making it happen.”
Dating back to 1904, the Entente Cordiale embraces numerous agreements between the UK and France covering issues as varied as diplomacy, trade and defence – putting an end to centuries of hostility and frequent conflict between the two nations.
More recently, defence and security cooperation has been strengthened by the Lancaster House Treaties, leading to the creation of the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force and joint defence projects including autonomous mine warfare systems and anti-ship missile technology for Royal and French Navies.
It’s the first time Royal Navy has visited the French capital in 20 years – that was to mark the centenary of the special bond between London and Paris.
