PA
Carla Bruni has given birth to a baby girl this afternoon, her first child with husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, according to claims coming from a private Paris clinic.
President Sarkozy, 56, reportedly spent 30 minutes at Carla's side after the baby was delivered. Our picture shows him racing into the building to be with his wife.
The couple has insisted the birth of their first baby is a 'private matter' and that no official statement will be released from the Elysee Palace.
During the pregnancy, Carla insisted her second child will never be pictured.
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Ms Bruni-Sarkozy was said to have entered the Muette Clinic early this morning. A member of staff reportedly later leaked to the press that she 'had the baby - it's a little girl.'
Mr Sarkozy apparently dashed from his wife's bedside to a meeting with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Frankfurt, but refused to answer any questions as to whether Carla had indeed given birth.
Carla, 43, has a son Aurelien, 10, from a previous relationship, and was at one point rumoured to be expecting twins. Nicolas has three sons: Pierre, 26, and Jean, 24, from his first marriage to Marie-Dominique Culioli, and Louis, 14, with his second wife, Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz.
If the rumours are true, what lovely news! The first time a serving French president's wife has had a baby - and a first girl for the couple.