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France's new first lady? Julie Gayet appears at event attended by Hollande France's new first lady? Julie Gayet appears at event attended by Hollande
(about 5 hours later)
French actress Julie Gayet appeared for the first time on Thursday at an official event attended by President François Hollande, amid speculation that she is being gradually introduced as the nation’s new first lady. French actor Julie Gayet appeared for the first time on Thursday at an official event attended by President François Hollande, amid speculation that she is being gradually introduced as the nation’s new first lady.
The 43-year-old actress, dressed all in black, stepped out at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of a famous wartime address by General Charles de Gaulle. Gayet, 43, dressed all in black, stepped out at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of a famous wartime address by Gen Charles de Gaulle.
Hollande, 60, split with his long-term girlfriend Valerie Trierweiler last year after revelations that he was having an affair with Gayet.Hollande, 60, split with his long-term girlfriend Valerie Trierweiler last year after revelations that he was having an affair with Gayet.
Arriving shortly before Hollande at the ceremony at Mont Valerien, on the western edge of Paris, Gayet was seen pushing the wheelchair of her grandfather, Alain Gayet, a decorated hero of the French resistance.Arriving shortly before Hollande at the ceremony at Mont Valerien, on the western edge of Paris, Gayet was seen pushing the wheelchair of her grandfather, Alain Gayet, a decorated hero of the French resistance.
The ceremony marked the anniversary of De Gaulle’s historic radio address from London on 18 June, 1940, urging French citizens to resist German occupation.The ceremony marked the anniversary of De Gaulle’s historic radio address from London on 18 June, 1940, urging French citizens to resist German occupation.
Accompanied by her father Brice, Gayet stayed discreetly at the back throughout as Hollande shook hands with the former resistance fighters.Accompanied by her father Brice, Gayet stayed discreetly at the back throughout as Hollande shook hands with the former resistance fighters.
The presidency insisted it was a coincidence that Gayet was at the event. “There was no strategy on our part,” an advisor to Hollande said, saying the actress attended the ceremony in her capacity as the granddaughter of a decorated resistance fighter. The presidency insisted it was a coincidence that Gayet was at the event. “There was no strategy on our part,” an advisor to Hollande said, saying the actor attended the ceremony in her capacity as the granddaughter of a decorated resistance fighter.
The surprise appearance came as society magazine Paris Match splashed the headline “Julie Gayet comes into the light” on its front cover, reporting on Thursday the actress is set to “enter her new role little by little” as Hollande’s official partner. The surprise appearance came as society magazine Paris Match splashed the headline “Julie Gayet comes into the light” on its front cover, reporting on Thursday the actor was set to “enter her new role little by little” as Hollande’s official partner.
In April, celebrity magazine Voici printed photos of the two walking together at La Lanterne, the president’s residence at Versailles outside Paris, alongside some old friends of Hollande.In April, celebrity magazine Voici printed photos of the two walking together at La Lanterne, the president’s residence at Versailles outside Paris, alongside some old friends of Hollande.
The same magazine had in November published pictures of the two looking cosy together inside the Elysee presidential residence, prompting five staff members to be reassigned over what constituted a damaging security breach. The same magazine had in November published pictures of the two together inside the Elysee presidential residence, prompting five staff members to be reassigned over what constituted a damaging security breach.
Repeatedly asked in recent months about the status of his relationship with Gayet amid huge speculation in the tabloids, Hollande has neither confirmed nor denied that the pair are still an item, saying merely he has a right to have his privacy respected. Repeatedly asked in recent months about the status of his relationship with Gayet amid huge speculation in the tabloids, Hollande has neither confirmed nor denied that the pair are still together, saying he has a right to have his privacy respected.
Paparazzi photos in January 2014 of Hollande in a scooter helmet, visiting Gayet at a Paris apartment, set off an international media firestorm.Paparazzi photos in January 2014 of Hollande in a scooter helmet, visiting Gayet at a Paris apartment, set off an international media firestorm.
Trierweiler, a journalist, published a bestselling tell-all memoir of their subsequent break-up, portraying the president as a cold-hearted egotist and champagne socialist, who was contemptuous of the “toothless” poor. Trierweiler, a journalist, published a bestselling tell-all memoir of their subsequent breakup, portraying the president as a cold-hearted egotist and champagne socialist who was contemptuous of the “toothless” poor.
The president has four children with another former partner, the current ecology minister Ségolène Royal.The president has four children with another former partner, the current ecology minister Ségolène Royal.