Brigitte Macron talks marriage age gap with French President Emmanuel Macron

The First Lady recalls the early stages of their relationship

Brigitte Macron has steered away from interviews ever since her husband Emmanuel Macron became the President of France.

However, she changed all that when she recently gave an interview to Elle magazine. Briggite spoke about being married to a man who is 24 years younger than her, reported Marie Claire.

Brigitte, 64, first met Emmanuel, 39, around two decades ago when she was a drama teacher at the high school he attended. There is much uncertainty regarding the commencement of their relationship but the two tied the knot in 2007, a year after Brigitte’s divorce with her first spouse André-Louis Auzière.

PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

The First Lady recalled the early stages of her relationship with Emmanuel during the interview.  Speaking of when they worked on a play together, she stated, "There was nothing between us at that time even though there was a lot of gossip. I was concerned only with my children, Sébastien, Laurence and Tiphaine."

Trump criticised for 'inappropriate' comment to French first lady

She continued, "I would be missing out on life if I hadn't made the decision to be with the man I love. There are times in your life where you need to make vital choices and for me, that was it. So, what has been said over the 20 years is insignificant."

She went on to make a joke about their age difference. “Of course, we have breakfast together, me and my wrinkles; him with his youth, but it's like that. If I did not make that choice, I would have missed out on my life.” She added, “I had a lot of happiness with my children and, at the same time, felt I had to live 'this love' to be fully happy."

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

The age gap between Brigitte and her husband received widespread speculation during the French presidential campaign earlier this year. She says she found it difficult to cope with the misogyny that it provoked. "I ended by telling myself, okay, I do not take it well but I have to deal with it. After, it will pass," she stated.

Macron: France's youngest president resets French politics

Brigitte is currently facing resistance to the President's push to formalise the First Lady's role. Since the couple's arrival at the Élysée, a petition opposing such a move has received 314,000 signatures.

However, Brigitte insists that she will not take a salary and promises that all official activities would be posted online "so that the French know exactly what I'm doing".

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.