French connection! France’s former president Francois Hollande and mistress-turned-girlfriend Julie Gayet look loved-up in rare intimate picture shared to Instagram
- French actress Julie Gayet, 49, shared loved up snap with Francois Hollande
- The former head of state, 67, was President of France from 2012 to 2017
- The couple look relaxed in a black and white picture shared on Instagram
They've kept their relationship out of the public eye since it came to light in a storm of publicity in 2014, but Julie Gayet has shared a rare portait with partner Francois Hollande, proving their bond is still going strong.
The French actress, 49, shared the intimate snap on Instagram, where she is seen embracing former French president, Hollande, 67, as the couple look straight into the camera.
Gayet and the politician have kept a low profile since their relationship came to light when Hollande was President and still in a relationship with French journalist Valerie Trierweiler.
Their joint appearances are scarce, and Julie has been very careful as to which pictures she shares online with the former head of state.
The beautiful black and white picture makes it clear the romance is still alive and well between the couple.
France's former president Francois Hollande, 67, and his girlfriend of seven years Julie Gayet, 49, look loved up in a new snap shared on her Instagram, pictured
A short message wishing Gayet's followers a good return to school and work following the summer holidays accompanies the snap.
The actress is seen embracing her partner of seven years from behind, her hands clasped on his torso while she leans on his shoulder.
As she smiles, her windswept blond locks fall to the side of her face.
The former president, meanwhile, looks calm and relaxed, wearing a suit and white shirt with the collar unbuttoned.
The couple have kept a low-profile and limited their joint appearances since their romance came to light in 2014 (pictured at a Gala for cancer research in Paris in 2019)
The couple have been enjoying their romance mostly out of the public eye, however, in 2020, they were both featured in a long article by French magazine Paris Match.
While they agreed to the feature, the actress and former president asked not to be quoted directly in the piece.
In the article, it was claimed the partner of Francois Hollande reportedly sent an angry text to the current French First Lady Brigitte Macron, 68, for excluding her from a party at the Elysée Palace - and inviting Francois's ex, Valie Trierweiler, instead.
Whether the story came directly from Gayet or someone close to her is unclear, but the magazine reports that the actress, 47, was enraged when Ms Macron, 66, failed to invite her to a lunch for former First Ladies at the Elysée Palace in 2019 - and even sent her an angry message to complain.
The magazine also reported Ms Gayet referring to Emmanuel Macron as 'the traitor' for threatening to cut public funding for her partner's French-American Foundation,
Hollande started dating Gayet during his term as president and while he was dating journalist Valerie Trierweiler, pictured
Although Ms Gayet shunned a public role as First Lady, she lived at the Elysée Palace with Hollande until he was ousted by Emmanuel Macron in 2017.
However, Ms Macron chose not to invite her to the lunch with former French First Ladies at the palace.
Guests included Carla Bruni, the wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, who was Head of State from 2007 to 2012, and Valerie Trierweiler, who was dating Francois Hollande from 2007 until his infidelity was exposed in 2014.
Ms Gayet had kept silent at the time, but her absence at the occasion had raised eyebrows among journalists and political watchers, who had wondered why she was not on the guest list.
But behind closed doors, not one to back out from a fight, Ms Gayet apparently addressed the humiliating snub in a text message to the host herself.
The feature also revealed that Ms Gayet did not attend the funeral of former president Jacques Chirac in Paris last year because she 'could not stand to see the Macrons'.
The sombre event, which took place on September 29 2019, was attended by President Macron and former president Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as numerous French politicians and foreign head of states like Bill Clinton. Francois Hollande attended the funeral, at Les Invalides in the French capital, alone.
The magazine also reported that Ms Gayet referred to Emmnauel Macron as 'the Traitor'. It read: 'She cannot stand the way in which they [the Macrons] switched sides and thought about cutting the public funding to Hollande's foundation, nor the fact they are getting closer to the Sarkozy couple.'
Most watched News videos
- Shocking video shows bully beating disabled girl in wheelchair
- Loud sirens are heard in Iranian city as Israel launches attacks
- Rishi on moral mission to combat 'unsustainable' sick note culture
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
- Boris Johnson questions the UK's stance on Canadian beef trade
- 'Incredibly difficult' for Sturgeon after husband formally charged
- Jewish campaigner gets told to leave Pro-Palestinian march in London
- Shocking moment thug on bike snatches pedestrian's phone
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- Mel Stride: Sick note culture 'not good for economy'
- Met Police say Jewish faith is factor in protest crossing restriction
