Video: Queen displays her linguistic skills as she welcomes Francois Hollande in French During what was their first meeting, Mr Hollande, making his first visit to Britain since his election in May, spent around half an hour alone with the Queen with the conversation taking place largely in French. However, although the small talk may have been in Mr Hollande's native tongue, the initial topic was characteristically British as the Her Majesty asked the French president about the weather. Commenting on the rain, the Queen enquired in French: "Has it been the same for you?." The same, there is no jealousy to be had between France and England there. Mr Hollande replied, raising a laugh from the monarch.