On the subject of the media, HM Government made a serious effort to crank up positive publicity for the visit to London of Poland’s President Kwasniewski on a State Visit after Poland joined the European Union in 2004.

The visit featured a fun photo-shoot swing by the London football ground where the President had worked as an illegal immigrant in his student days. This AP picture of the President rifling the ball past the hapless Polish Defence Minister in goal at Arsenal stadium boo hiss was picked up on the wires:

Kwasniewski Arsenal

But as far as the British newspapers were concerned, there was only one story:

Polish State Visit Horse

I can assure you (as I was there). The Palace were Not Amused.