It took four-and-a-half years, but the trial of Lise Thibault, Quebec's Lieutenant Governor between 1997 and 2007, began Wednesday in Quebec City.

The trial began with a few fireworks as Thibault's lawyer Marc Labelle questioned a provincial police investigator about technicallities concerning the investigation.

Auditors general of both Canada and Quebec alleged that Lise Thibault spent $700,000 of taxpayer money on events unrelated to her official duties.

Thibault has long challegned the charges of fraud and breach of trust and claimed immunity under the queen-can-do-no-wrong principle, an argument the Supreme Court ruled against last year.

Proceedings appeared to have kicked off on March 26 but were followed by more legal delays.

The Court will hear around 40 witnesses in the six week trial.