An invitation to the gilded Elysee palace of France’s president in Paris usually prompts a sense of decorum and formality in a visitor of any rank. During crunch talks over Brexit with French President Emmanuel Macron — who Johnson insisted on repeatedly addressing as “Monsieur le President” — the British premier joked and waved his hands flamboyantly. The episode appeared part of a shared joke with Macron, who could be seen laughing heartily.
