Royal Reflections: The Emperor Appears to Lose an Argument
One of the enduring mysteries of the State Visit is whether Emperor Napoléon V enjoys arguing.
If so, yesterday evening provided an excellent opportunity.
The Emperor spent much of the opera interval speaking with la Madame Royale, a woman whose opinions have long been rumoured to be considerably sharper than her public persona suggests. While royal conversations are rarely audible beyond a few nearby seats, they are often visible, and this particular exchange attracted attention almost immediately.
At the beginning of the interval, the atmosphere appeared remarkably relaxed. Witnesses described both parties as engaged and at ease. The Emperor seemed animated, while the Madame, so often criticised for appearing distant or reserved in public, was noticeably more expressive than usual.
Several attendees remarked upon the change.
Madame Royale was smiling.
For a woman whose public image has been built upon composure and restraint, this alone was enough to generate discussion throughout the theatre.
The conversation continued for much of the interval, far longer than the brief exchanges typically expected during such events. At various points, both appeared deeply engaged, leaning toward one another in a manner suggesting genuine interest rather than ceremonial courtesy.
Observers noted a visible shift in the conversation's tone over time.
The smiles became less frequent.
The Emperor's expressions grew more serious.
The Madame, meanwhile, appeared increasingly thoughtful.
No one outside the immediate conversation can claim to know what was said. Nevertheless, that has not prevented speculation from flourishing at a rate that would impress even the most ambitious political columnist.
By the conclusion of the interval, the Emperor appeared distinctly less pleased than when it began.
Madame Royale, meanwhile, remained characteristically difficult to read.
This has prompted an intriguing question.
Did the Emperor spend the evening charming the Madame?
Or did the Madame spend the evening telling the Emperor things he did not wish to hear?
Photographic evidence currently favours the latter.
Indeed, several images taken near the end of the exchange have become favourites among observers. In them, the Emperor appears to be explaining something with considerable determination, while the Madame listens with an expression that can only be described as politely unconvinced.
It is, admittedly, dangerous to draw conclusions from a single photograph.
It is considerably less dangerous when there are several.
What makes the episode particularly fascinating is that it runs contrary to the assumptions many people hold about both figures.
Napoléon V possesses a reputation for confidence, charm, and an almost theatrical ability to dominate a room. The Madame, by contrast, has spent years cultivating (or perhaps enduring) a reputation for silence.
Yet during the opera interval, the dynamic appeared unexpectedly reversed.
The Emperor seemed increasingly intent on making a point.
The Madame seemed increasingly unwilling to surrender one.
Whether the disagreement concerned politics, diplomacy, opera, or the proper preparation of coffee remains unknown.
What is known is that by the time the audience returned its attention to Mozart, many had become far more interested in the royal box than the stage.
And when an opera audience begins ignoring Don Giovanni in favour of watching two people talk, one may reasonably conclude that something interesting has occurred.
For now, the contents of the conversation remain a mystery.
The expressions at the end of it, however, are available for public inspection.
They have already inspired a great many theories.
Most of them begin with the same assumption:
The Emperor entered the interval expecting a pleasant conversation.
He may not have expected to encounter an argument.
And he certainly may not have expected to lose it.
