Entente Cordiale Day 2024/2025 Winners Honoured with an Exclusive Visit to the
Élysée Palace
The winners of the 2024/2025 edition of Entente Cordiale Day were invited for an exceptional private visit to the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of the French Republic. This rare opportunity offered students an inside look at one of France’s most emblematic institutions, celebrating their hard work, creativity, and diplomatic spirit. It was a memorable moment of recognition and a source of inspiration for the next generation of Franco-British leaders.
Upon arrival, students were granted access to the Cour d’Honneur, the historic forecourt where heads of state, official guests, and world leaders are traditionally welcomed.
They also had access to the Élysée Gardens, a two-hectare landscape created inthe 18th century and repeatedly redesigned over time. Initially arranged in the French formal tradition and later incorporating 19th-century English-style elements, the gardens have been adapted by successive presidents to accommodate official events and contemporary needs.
Students then explored several ground-floor rooms of the Élysée Palace, which serve key ceremonial and governmental functions. These included the Vestibule d’Honneur, located at the main entrance of the Palace. It serves as the formal reception area for heads of state and official guests, where foreign dignitaries are welcomed before proceeding to other ceremonial spaces.
The Salon des Aides-de-Camp, historically used by the President’s military aides responsible for protocol, security coordination, and ceremonial duties, illustrates the close relationship between the Presidency and the armed forces.