Fleur Thomas: From flight attendant to ambassador

It is a rainy day in August when we are invited into the British ambassador's residence. We climb the stairs through the magnificent entrance with an impressive chandelier hanging from the ceiling and enter a large, light-flooded room with several sofas. Fleur Thomas is sitting on one of them. Next to her are colourful cushions which, as she will tell us later, she has embroidered herself to match the sofa. When she sees us, she stands up, an open and friendly smile on her face: "Nice to see you!"

After we have greeted each other, the first question first: "Where is Diplocat Millie?" Her cat, which Fleur Thomas brought with her to Luxembourg, always wears a small collar with the British flag on official occasions and is the equivalent of Larry the Cat, the Chief Mouser of 10 Downing Street. "She's upstairs. I can fetch her later, she's very social."