Thursday, 27 March 2008

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SEE PICS Nude image of Carla Bruni showcased on eve of British visit

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and new wife said to be fuming

Carla Bruni was left red-faced following the release of a nude photo of her on Tuesday – the day before she met the Queen.

The model, 40, is accompanying her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, on a 2-day state visit to Britain.

Yesterday she met The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess Of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles and PM Gordon Brown, 57.

The picture, taken 15 years ago by Swiss photographer Michel Comte, was showcased by auction house Christie's ahead of a New York sale next month.

It shows Carla in a full-frontal pose and is believed to have caused her and Nicolas considerable diplomatic embarrassment.

'Carla is very angry, not to say deeply upset, that a commercial organisation has chosen to release this print at such a time,' a source tells The Sun.

'She is spitting blood, it is so inappropriate. Her priority is to establish herself as a First Lady that France can be proud of.'

Christie's defended its decision to release the picture, along with nudes of Giselle Bundchen, 27, and Kate Moss, 34.

'It's a work of art. It was shot in 1993 when Miss Bruni was a model and it's a tasteful nude portrait executed by a well-known, respectable artist,' spokeswoman Milena Sales tells the Daily Mail.

Carla married Nicolas, 53, last month after a whirlwind romance.

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