PARIS: British royals William and Kate arrived in Paris on Friday in the prince’s first official visit to the French capital since his mother Diana died there.
William, who is second-in-line to the throne, and his wife are acting as goodwill ambassadors for Britain just as the country prepares to trigger the formal process of leaving the European Union.
At a reception for young French entrepreneurs to launch a celebration of Franco-British links called “Les Voisins” (Neighbours), the 34-year-old prince said the two countries had much in common.
“This partnership will continue despite Britain’s recent decision to leave the European Union,” William said.
“The depth and the breadth of our cooperation will not change.”
The couple met French President Francois Hollande soon after arriving in the capital and on Saturday met victims of the November 2015 terror attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris.
The trip comes as William faces criticism in the British media for missing a Commonwealth celebration to go skiing with friends.
In the world’s fashion capital, Kate wore a sleeveless V-neck black dress by Alexander McQueen before changing into a gray-blue gown by British designer Jenny Packham later in the evening.
At a star-studded black-tie dinner at the ambassador’s residence, Kate was seated next to “Godzilla” star Jean Reno, while her husband had French actress Audrey Tautou and Kristin Scott-Thomas, the British actress who lives in Paris, for company.
They were served a starter of langoustine before a main course of roast lamb — but to the French media’s amusement, the traditional British mint sauce for the meat did not feature.
Although no official commemoration is planned during the trip, it will be impossible to escape the poignancy of Diana’s eldest son visiting the city where she died on August 31, 1997.
William was 15 and his brother Harry 12 when their mother and her Egyptian boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed were killed after their Mercedes crashed in central Paris as it was being pursued by press photographers.
William, Kate visit Paris 20 years after Diana’s death
William, Kate visit Paris 20 years after Diana’s death
Some Warren Buffett wisdom on his last day leading Berkshire Hathaway
OMAHA, Nebraska: The advice that legendary investor Warren Buffett offered on investing and life over the years helped earn him legions of followers who eagerly read his annual letters and filled an arena in Omaha every year to listen to him at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meetings.
Buffett’s last day as CEO is Wednesday after six decades of building up the Berkshire conglomerate. He’ll remain chairman, but Greg Abel will take over leadership.
Here’s a collection of some of Buffett’s most famous quotes from over the years:
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“Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”
That’s how Buffett summed up his investing approach of buying out-of-favor stocks and companies when they were selling for less than he estimated they were worth.
He also urged investors to stick with industries they understand that fall within their “circle of competence” and offered this classic maxim: “Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1.”
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“After they first obey all rules, I then want employees to ask themselves whether they are willing to have any contemplated act appear the next day on the front page of their local paper to be read by their spouses, children and friends with the reporting done by an informed and critical reporter.
“If they follow this test, they need not fear my other message to them: Lose money for the firm and I will be understanding; lose a shred of reputation for the firm and I will be ruthless.”
That’s the ethical standard Buffett explained to a Congressional committee in 1991 that he would apply as he cleaned up the Wall Street investment firm Salomon Brothers. He has reiterated the newspaper test many times since over the years.
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“You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.”
Many companies might do well when times are good and the economy is growing, but Buffett told investors that a crisis always reveals whether businesses are making sound decisions.
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“Who you associate with is just enormously important. Don’t expect that you’ll make every decision right on that. But you are going to have your life progress in the general direction of the people you work with, that you admire, that become your friends.”
Buffett always told young people that they should try to hang out with people who they feel are better than them because that will help improve their lives. He said that’s especially true when choosing a spouse, which might be the most important decision in life.
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“Our unwavering conclusion: never bet against America.”
Buffett has always remained steadfast in his belief in the American capitalist system. He wrote in 2021 that “there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America. Despite some severe interruptions, our country’s economic progress has been breathtaking.”
