Carla Bruni secretly marries French President?

Model and Nicolas Sarkozy said to have already tied knot in intimate ceremony

Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Carla Bruni has reportedly secretly married French President Nicolas Sarkozy – after less than 2 months of dating.

The lovers became man and wife at the Elysée Palace in Paris last Thursday, claims French newspaper L'Est Républicain.

'It was a low-key ceremony,' a source tells the paper. 'The president and his new wife looked extremely happy.'

But the government's official spokesman has not confirmed the report and Carla's mum Marisa was also being evasive last night.

'Everything is possible in this world - it may well be true,' she says.

L'Est Républicain insist they were informed by a reliable source.

'A witness to the marriage has confirmed that it took place,' insists the paper's rep. 'We stand by our exclusive story.'

Nicolas - who is said to have proposed to Carla over Christmas - held a press conference last Tuesday where he hinted that a secret wedding was likely.

'There is a strong chance that you will learn about it after it's already done,' he smiled.

Twice divorced Nicolas, 52, and Carla, 40 - who is rumoured to be pregnant - are believed to have booked a honeymoon in San Vito di Negrar, near the northern Italian city of Verona, reports the Daily Mail.