So what were they talking about? An unusual photo of the German and French leaders, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, apparently covering their mouths while deep in conversation with a concerned-looking Theresa May has sparked all manner of theories.
For some, the picture recalled a conspiratorial huddle of football players trying to conceal from the opposing team their options for a shot on goal. “May, Merkel and Macron going for the old hide-the-free-kick-plan-from-the-lipreader trick,” tweeted the Agence France-Presse reporter Danny Kemp.
May Merkel and Macron going for the old hide-the-free-kick-plan-from-the-lipreader trick pic.twitter.com/T4V3zGDR2n
— Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) October 19, 2017
The gesture is common, too, among tennis doubles players running through their play for the next point, and rugby players debating lineout possibilities. Others suspected matters of a less sporting nature were being discussed.
Some thought Macron and Merkel might have been discreetly swapping figures for the kind of sum Britain might have to offer for the Brexit financial settlement before the EU27 would be likely to accept it: “£40bn? No, more like £60bn, surely. Oh go on, then let’s settle on £50bn.”
Others, rather more unkindly, suggested the chancellor and president were trying to entertain the British prime minister with amusing imitations of her disastrous Conservative party conference speech, during which May was overcome by coughing.
For some, the photo reminded them of uncomfortable scenarios entirely unrelated to either Brexit or sport. “When your mates tell you your ex has just arrived at the club,” tweeted Mollie Goodfellow of the Sky News politics team.
In fact, it seems the three leaders were talking about something else altogether.
In what was doubtless a pre-planned photo opportunity to show that they would not allow something as trivial as Brexit to get in the way of their friendship, the trio apparently strode into the summit venue in deep conversation about the Iran nuclear agreement.
Merkel, May and Macron were talking about the Iran agreement, when they walked into the summit looking friendly.
— Jennifer Rankin (@JenniferMerode) October 19, 2017
