France, May 6 -- "England is no longer an island," French newscasters solemnly announced in their evening bulletins of 6 May 1994 (conveniently forgetting that it never had been).

At 12.40pm that afternoon, a Eurostar from London had pulled into Coquelles, northern France.

It was carrying the first official guests to travel under the English Channel by rail: Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.

They were greeted by French President Francois Mitterrand, who had made the less exciting journey from Paris aboard a sister Eurostar.

"It's the first time in history that the heads of state of France and Great Britain have met without having to take either the boat or a plane," the Queen said in precise, clipped French.

Hands w...