Sarkozy Visits UK For De Gaulle Anniversary
David Williams and Emma Langman, Sky News Online
Nicolas Sarkozy has hailed Britain's support for the French Resistance as he marked the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's wartime call to arms with a visit to London.
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The French president and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy visited the BBC's Broadcasting House in central London from where de Gaulle delivered his legendary address in the early days of the Second World War.
Mr Sarkozy paid tribute to Britain, who he said "made possible the very existence of the French resistance" by recognising General de Gaulle's right to speak.
As Ms Bruni-Sarkozy helped Mrs Cameron by flicking a fly away from her dress, the French head of state talked about the unity of the two countries and how proud he was to be in London.
He said: "By recognising (Gen de Gaulle's) legitimacy, Britain made known forever that ... the only true France could be that France which had not stooped to betrayal, the only true France was that that had the will to fight on, the only true France was that which did not accept defeat."
He ended by saying: "Prime Minister, my dear David, Mrs Cameron - long live France, long live Britain and long live friendship between our two nations and our two peoples."
No Flies On sam, thanks to carla
Earlier in the day, three British veterans were presented France's highest honour by Sarkozy.
The Legion d'Honneur was awarded to Glynne Medlicott, Alexander Sutton and Walter Freegard at a ceremony in London's Royal Hospital Chelsea for their role in the Allied invasion of France during World War Two.
"Whenever I talk about it, I choke up," Mr Medlicott, from Shrewsbury, said.
On June 18, 1940, as the defeated French government prepared to sign an armistice with the Nazis, General de Gaulle called on French citizens to continue the war against Germany and appealed to all troops to rally under his command in London.
"The flame of French Resistance must not and will not be extinguished," he said.
Some 200 French veterans of the Resistance and World War II have made the trip to London to mark the anniversary.
They travelled on board a special Eurostar train, whose side was emblazoned with the General's image.
De Gaulle's former colleagues travelled on board a customised Eurostar service
"We were but a group of determined and courageous men. But in fact it was General de Gaulle who changed the fate of France and not us," said veteran Emile Chaline, 78, who was a vice admiral under the French leader.
Another veteran, 95-year-old George Zwang, said: "We have to think about those who aren't here, those we left behind."
Prince Charles accompanied Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni-Sarkozy on a tour of the London headquarters of the Free French - the fighters led by de Gaulle, who rejected their country's surrender to Nazi Germany.
The French president was the first foreign leader to be invited on an official visit to Britain by David Cameron when he became Prime Minister last month.
Mr Cameron said: "The importance of General de Gaulle's words has not been dimmed by history.
The Sarkozys with Prince Charles
"It was a call for freedom; a call to fight tyranny; a call that inspired countless acts of bravery.
"Today we honour and remember the courage of all those who fought for the cause of freedom.
"And today we celebrate the relationship between France and Britain."
On a previous visit to Britain in March, Mr Sarkozy was forced to laugh off rumours about his marriage amid claims circulating on the internet that they were both having affairs.
Although the rumours were largely ignored by the French media, Mr Sarkozy was questioned about them by British journalists, prompting him to say: "I love Britain - don't make me bite back those words."
Mr Sarkozy and Ms Bruni-Sarkozy made a state visit to Britain in March 2008.
The Sarkozys with the Queen and Prince Philip in London in 2008
Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War

Nicolas Sarkozy visited the UK today to celebrate the 70th anniversary since  made his war broadcast. The French president and the  laid wreaths at the statue of Charles de Gaulle in 

Earlier, Mr Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni visited the BBC radio studio where the famous broadcast was made on BBC France. The broadcast at the time was said to have been listened to by a very small number of listeners. Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a plaque and viewed a tapestry given to the BBC by France as a note of gratitude after World War II.

Nicolas Sarkozy and British PM David Cameron met with 200 veterans during a ceremony at the . Nicolas Sarkozy awarded the  to six World War II veterans, three of whom were British. 

In a short speech, Mr Cameron said the anniversary was a "reminder that Britain and France are not just neighbours in the geographical sense but also in the emotional sense." Mr Cameron held an hour of talks with the French president at Downing Street primarily focusing on economics, Afghanistan, and other foreign policy matters. 
The visit is the first by a French president to mark Gen de Gaulle's broadcast on June 18, 1940. In the stirring radio appeal, Gen de Gaulle declared himself leader of the "Free French", spawning the French Resistance, which went on to play a crucial role in defeating the Germans.

Mr Sarkozy's last official visit to the UK was in March 2008, when he was also accompanied by his wife.