Australian first lady flattered by Macron's 'delicious' description

All's well that ends well.

Australia's prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said today his wife was "flattered and charmed" to be described by French President Emmanuel Macron as "delicious".

The compliment had sparked lighthearted discussion on whether it was in fact inappropriate.

Macron had raised eyebrows with his description of Prime Minister Turnbull's wife of 38 years, Lucy, during a Sydney press conference.


He had said at a press conference, "I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome."

Turnbull, however was unflappable, when asked about his reaction to Macron's comment.

He said his wife was in fact very flattered and said she had asked him to say that she found the president's compliment as charming as it was memorable.

"President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls," the prime minister said.

The Sydney newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported the comment on its front page under the headline "President Pepe Le Pew," likening Macron to the Warner Bros. love-sick French skunk cartoon character.

Some observers however felt Macron may simply have slipped up in his use of English, since the French word for delicious.


Image: French President Emmanuel Macron made headlines and raised eyebrows in Sydney on Wednesday by calling Lucy Turnbull, the Australian prime ministers wife, 'delicious'. Picture: Reuters