“This is Léon Zitrone speaking to you from Westminster Abbey”… His name and his legend are so linked to the weddings, burials and coronations of princesses, princes, queens and kings, that at the time of the coronation of Charles III, it is impossible not to have the reflex to think of the one Madelen invites you to see or see again in a “self-portrait” made at the end of the 1970s.
If he were still with us, Big Léon would not have missed this historic meeting with a sovereign whom he met in July 1981, on the eve of his marriage to Lady Diana, followed, in worldwide, by a billion viewers. The head to head took place in a living room of the British Embassy in Paris, during a reception where the journalist had been invited. As soon as he arrives, he meets Princess Grace of Monaco, whom he has interviewed several times and with whom he maintains friendly but respectful relations.
She immediately takes him by the arm and leads him to the Prince of Wales, to whom she declares: “I present to you Mr. Zitrone. It is he who is responsible for commenting on your marriage for one of the French channels. Be sure, it will be good! “. This is how a cordial and even quite warm discussion begins. Charles questions him on how he prepared his future commentary. “Monsignor, I have read countless articles, but also a large number of biographies, in French and in English, that have been published about you,” Zitrone replies.
Smiling, the prince, who is not lacking in humor, replies: “You must have a low opinion of me then, because the authors of books are not kind to me. They only remember my little quirks”. The exchange becomes so warm that Zitrone ventures to request an exclusive interview, in the weeks or months to come. Charles gives him his agreement in principle, and, before going to other guests, whispers in his ear: “Good luck, Mr. Zitrone, you’re going to have a tough day! Hold the distance well, don’t try to sprint too soon, practice holding the microphone for a long time. I will think of you ! “.
This princely dubbing encouraged the journalist to spend the night rereading and annotating files written for weeks and pasted, according to the themes, on sheets of cardboard of all colors. “My job is sometimes difficult, but that of a monarch is damned more complex”, he will often declare, adding that it can only be exercised by people who have been prepared for this function for years, and who have, through ties , a thorough knowledge of royal customs. He thus never concealed his admiration for Queen Elizabeth II, whom he met in 1972, at Versailles, in the Hall of Mirrors, during a dinner on the occasion of his official visit to France. Georges Pompidou, then President of the Republic, presented him to His Majesty.
The conversation started, almost naturally, around their common passion: horses. They talked about future Grands Prix and the Queen whispered in Leon’s ear: “If I didn’t fear the wrath of my Archbishop of Canterbury, I would come to the Longchamp racecourse every Sunday in the summer ! “.
The next day, Zitrone returns to the Trianon for a long-planned report. While we are busy adjusting the lights, microphones and cameras, Elizabeth II, followed by Prince Philip, makes an entrance that the protocol had not planned. “Dear Mr. Zitrone, she exclaims, I’m going to have to steeplechase over your cables to get a coat from my room. The technical team immediately opens a passage for him. She thanked the assembly and concluded thus, addressing Leon: “You won’t mind me, dear sir, for using words from the equestrian vocabulary to engage to step over obstacles! »
