While tongues have been wagging the world over following the French President’s description of Lucy Turnbull as “delicious”, the comment has not caused offence.
Emmanuel Macron raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he thanked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his “delicious wife” for their hospitality and warm welcome in Sydney.
“Lucy was very flattered,” Mr Turnbull told reporters in Nowra.
“She found the president’s compliment as charming as it was memorable.”
President Macron charmed Australia and charmed all the Turnbulls, he said.
“Australia-France relations have always been very strong, very warm,” Mr Turnbull said.
The word for delicious in French – delicieux – translates as “delightful”.
The story has gone global and been picked by international newspapers including the Washington Post.
Sydney’s Daily Telegraph front page depicted President Macron as Looney Tunes character Pepe Le Pew, a love-hunting French skunk.
Mr Macron’s wife Brigitte, is about 25 years his senior and was his former school teacher.