Tonga's prime minister, Feleti Sevele, the first commoner to hold the job following his appointment yesterday, said Tonga had been a faithful friend of Britain for almost two centuries.

Some speculated that King Louis XVI, no friend of Britain, had callously seized an opportunity to strike at his country's traditional enemy via the Americans.

In particular, what of Bahrain - a long-standing friend of Britain whose strategic importance has, if anything, grown over time?

This was a major blow to Næss, he felt insulted by what he viewed as unfriendly treatment of a friend of Britain.

Sir Humphrey tells him that the Qumranis are good friends of Britain and assist the country in several ways, so the Foreign Office's advice would be to do nothing.

"Sam Houston was always a true friend of Britain!"

Gordon Brown called the president-elect "a true friend of Britain", declaring that "I know Barack Obama and we share many values".

America is a "great friend of Britain and our closest ally," Mr. Clarke said.

Thanks friends of Great Britain and all over the world.

The Republicans denounced Hamilton, Adams, and even Washington as friends of Britain, as secret monarchists, and as enemies of the republican values.