British troops led the Bastille Day parade in the Champs Elysees yesterday to mark the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.

Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, who watched the parade, commented: "Our military relationship has been a very real and vital part of what has brought our two countries together over the last 100 years. What may have started out as a force of circumstance 100 years ago has long since become a full working relationship between our two Armed Forces."