Le roi poudré

President Emmanuel Macron of France has spent £24,000 on make-up and hair-dos in three months. He is still only 39. When our own Prince Regent came to the throne in 1820, he was 57. The Coronation portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence showed what art could do where nature faltered. The portly new king was swaddled in ermine, except where his shapely calves could be shown off in silk stockings. Lace ruffling circleted his chins and pomaded kiss-curls fixed his remaining hair. No doubt he thought the result satisfactory. Kings, of course, may draw on crown estates for hairdresser’s bills. The French, having long ago chopped off royal heads of state, must pay for presidential ornament from current taxation. The funny thing about it all is that no one would think worse of Mr Macron for the odd crow’s foot.