Boris Johnson was booed by the crowd after giving his first speech as foreign secretary at a French Embassy reception in London.
Johnson, whose appointment to the job caused an outpouring of disbelief, spoke to a small crowd and called for an “ever closer union” between Britain and France.
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It was unclear if Johnson was booed by British or French guests, or both.
Johnson said he hoped the two nations could enjoy a “long and happy partnership”.
He then added: “And dare I venture to say, a political, cultural, psychological and economic union between our two countries at an intergovernmental level.”
Johnson ended his speech by saying: “If I may coin a phrase: Tojours plus etroite.” The phrase translates as “ever closer union”.