On May 25, 2025, the world witnessed an extraordinary scene when the French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to have his face slapped by his wife, Brigitte. The president later downplayed the incident, which was caught on video, insisting that they were both just "horsing around." The footage, however, quickly went viral, and has sparked further questions about an unusual relationship that began when Emmanuel was a 15-year-old schoolboy and Brigitte a 39-year-old teacher. So what sparked the controversial affair, and how has their unconventional romance endured?
Find out more about the French first couple's love for each other by clicking through the gallery.