French president Nicolas Sarkozy inducted Harry Potter author JK Rowling the French Legion of Honor on Tuesday – one of the country’s highest honors.
Sarkozy hailed the English author for enchanting French kiddies with her wizard tales.
“Thanks to this internationally renowned saga, you have contributed to giving young people the taste for reading again. With you, they understand that reading is not punishment, but a source of pleasure,” said the prez.
This is the second French Legion of Honor in Miz Rowling’s family.
Her French great-grandfather received the honor for battlefield courage during World War I.
Rowling commented, “I cannot say that I think that I truly deserve it, but the Legion of Honor has a particular and personal meaning.”
The Legion of Honor is France’s elite national merit society. Although foreigners cannot be officially inducted, they are routinely made honorary recipients.
Past recipients include director Steven Spielberg and singer Barbra Streisand.
[Image via AP Photo.]