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Love Beyond Age: Why France's President Waited 10 Years To Marry Brigitte Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron's wife, Brigitte, recently opened up about their unconventional student-teacher love story and 24-year age gap as they defy societal norms and embrace a romance that transcends age.

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Tanya Savkoor
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brigitte macron and emmanuel macron

Photo: AP Photo/Michel Euler

"I thought he would fall for someone his own age," expressed Brigitte Macron, France's First Lady, who is 24 years older than President Emmanuel Macron. In a cover-story interview with French magazine Paris MatchBrigitte Macron unfolded their unconventional love story, which had sparked when the President was only 15 years old.

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The first lady revealed that she was Emmanuel Macron's 39-year-old drama teacher at Catholic Providence School in Amiens, northern France, when their affair started. She was then married to André-Louis Auzière (till 2006) and had three children close to Emmanuel Macron's age. 

"For me, [a relationship with] such a young boy was crippling," the French first lady told Paris Match.

Initially, Emmanuel Macron's parents believed he was romantically involved with Brigitte Macron's daughter, Laurence Auzière, due to their close ages. However, a family friend revealed the truth, leading to the schoolboy's transfer to a boarding school in Paris. 

Objections and Obstacles

Brigitte Macron's thought was that Emmanuel Macron's transfer would bring an end to their fling. "Emmanuel had to leave for Paris. I told myself that he would fall in love with someone his own age," she said. But that did not happen; the two kept in touch, and romance blossomed in spite of the distance and objections.

From Romance to Matrimony

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Brigitte Macron was apprehensive and kept distance for a while because of "obstacles", especially her children, whose lives she "did not want to wreck," she exclaimed. But 10 years later, the two were still in love and decided to tie the knot. "I didn't want to miss out on my life," she said.

A decade after their unconventional love story began, Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron decided to formalize their commitment in 2007. At 29, the President became a stepfather to Brigitte's three adult children, solidifying the union that had weathered the tests of time and societal scrutiny.

All Praise for President Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron became France's President in 2017 at the age of 39, when Brigitte Macron was 64 years old. Speaking about Emmanuel Macron's presidency, she said, "His sharp intellect still surprises her every day... I have never seen such a memory ... such an intellectual capacity. I had many brilliant pupils, and none had his capability. I have always admired him," she told Paris Match.

Even in 2023, when our world is often dictated by age-appropriate relationships, the couple love story stands as a hope of optimism, reminding us that love knows no boundaries and can thrive against all odds. 

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love story Emmanuel Macron Brigitte Macron age gap france president
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