Broadcast's anniversary given Gallic glamour

They were in London for a symbolic visit – to mark the 70th anniversary of a radio broadcast by General Charles de Gaulle urging France to resist Nazi occupation.

After visiting the BBC to commemorate the broadcast, they went on to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where they were greeted by a flypast of a Spitfire, a Typhoon and a French Air Force Rafale.

A crowd of 1,600 spectators watched Mr Sarkozy award the Legion d'Honneur to six Second World War veterans, three British, who took part in the Operation Dragoon landings in Provence in August 1944.

Ms Bruni met the Prime Minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, wearing a black and white dress, at the ceremony.

In a short speech, Mr Cameron said: "Today is a reminder that Britain and France are not just neighbours in the geographical sense but also in the emotional sense.

"In the BBC studio, General de Gaulle declared that France was not alone and he was right.

"Behind her in that struggle was the might of the British armed forces and the friendship of the British people and the resolve of the British Prime Minister."

Mr Cameron paid tribute to British and French troops fighting alongside each other in Afghanistan.

Earlier in the day the French President met the Prince of Wales as part of a day of events to mark the anniversary, regarded as the keystone in the formation of the resistance movement.

General de Gaulle declared that "the flame of French resistance must not and will not be extinguished".

The UK Government had originally not wanted to allow him to issue his rallying cry, but the Cabinet was persuaded by Prime Minister Winston Churchill to let him go ahead.