Britain awaits Sarko’s bevy of beauties

Does Windsor Castle have room for all the women French President Nicholas Sarkozy plans to bring with him to meet the Queen this week? Pride of place in his throng goes, of course, to his new wife, Carla Bruni, who's taken curtseying lessons and told Paris Match: "I am prepared arduously". But she's only one of many women accompanying Sarkozy on his first state visit to Britain.

Others include Rachida Dati, the 42-year-old Justice Minister, who caused a stir recently by using her stately offices on the Place Vendome for a fashion shoot; human rights secretary Rama Yade, who at 31 is the most junior member of his government; and interior minister Michele Alliot-Marie who may be 61 but is famous - according to former president Jacques Chirac - for having the best legs in government.

And to cap it all, Sarko is threatening to bring his mum, Andree, who at 81 is the same age as the Queen.

One woman who will be delighted not to be present is Sarkozy's previous wife, Cecilia, who showed no interest in the trappings of power during the few months she remained with her husband following his election. She finally married her lover Richard Attias in New York on Sunday. There are rumours in Paris that Sarkozy has demanded a list of "treacherous" friends who attended the event.