FANCY A LOAN OF CLEO’S NEEDLE?

SO, what could we lend the French to remind them of ignominious defeat?

Union Jack from HMS Victory

A fragment of the Union Jack flown by the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar – when the British fleet smashed the French – was sold at Sotheby’s yesterday for £300,000.

Painting of the Battle of Waterloo

An oil painting in the Victoria & Albert Museum of the British withstanding a French cavalry charge seems particularly fitting, as it was painted by one Felix Philippoteaux – a Frenchman.

Cleopatra’s Needle

The monument, pictured, was given to the British from the ruler of Egypt to thank us for beating the French at the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Alexandria.