Anglophone cinephiles – whose French movie knowledge is, perhaps, framed by the New Wave works of Godard and Truffaut, or later stylish films such as Nikita, Jean de Florette and La Haine (many, many other French cinematic works are available) – may be slightly bemused by Les Tuche.
They’re a dysfunctional and oddly loveable fictional couple with three growing-up children, who have – so far – featured in four hit fish-out-of-water comedies dating back to 2011. Think along the lines of National Lampoon’s Griswolds, or the Gallaghers from Shameless. Maybe even a bit of both.
In the first movie, they head to Monaco after winning €100 million on the lottery. In the second, they secretly follow their bright and frequently embarrassed youngest son to the US, where he’s brushing up on his English.
And, in the third, the in-name-only head of the household runs for office – and finds himself elected president of France. After standing down in time for the fourth outing, he has to endure Christmas with his family.
Which brings us to the fifth film for the nouveau riche Tuche clan, in which their grandson Jiji is selected for a football training camp with English Premiership side Arsenal – the perfect opportunity for the clan to visit England … and, because this is a comedy not a documentary; meet Charles III and Queen Camilla.
We’re not about to introduce any spoilers, but God Save les Tuche also involves a secret royal recipe for French fries.
But, before you get all upset at the cheek of the French, it is all done with love, one of the movie's stars insisted.
“We admire the British and their royals. We mock them a bit. But at the same time they fascinate us," said Jean-Paul Rouve – who co-wrote, directs and stars as Jeff Tuche.
Some 14 million cinema-goers have enjoyed the four Tuche family antics to date, while the films routinely attract between four-million and eight-million viewers when they are screened on TV.
“For so many years, this success has been very moving. The public has made this funny family its own,” Rouve told AFP.
He's not wrong about the popularity of British royals in France - events like weddings, funerals and coronations routinely attract big TV audiences in France and the antics of the British royal family are frequently the subject of French media reports.
'The French have a taste for princes' - Why British royals are so popular in France
This isn't the first time that French comedy has made British royalty its subject - Camille Cottin's hit 2013 film Connasse (bitch) showed the titular character travelling to London in an attempt to meet and then marry Prince Harry.
God Save les Tuches is in cinemas now in France.
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