Carla Bruni gives G20 summit a miss as first ladies land in London

Carla Bruni will stay away from the summit, preferring to meet Michelle Obama in Strasbourg. The Élysée Palace told The Times that Ms Bruni would not be among the 16 spouses who will accompany their partners to London for events hosted by Sarah Brown and a reception at Buckingham Palace. Instead the first ladies of the United States and France will meet at a European summit on Saturday, in what inevitably will be seen as a snub to London. Ms Bruni, however, usually accompanies her husband only on state visits. Mrs Brown will take on the role of babysitter, charity worker and society hostess this week as she conjures up distractions for the partners of the most important men and women in the world. Her main goal is likely to be stopping the assembled first ladies being tailed by paparazzi on shopping expeditions through Bond Street. She can offer them other glamorous attractions, however. As well as an invitation to Buckingham Palace, there is a meal in Downing Street cooked by Jamie Oliver.

Continua ...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/G20/article5999156.ece