Emmanuel Macron‘s love story is anything but ordinary. It’s a tale of defying conventions, enduring whispers, and proving that love can exist beyond societal norms. Born on December 21, 1977, in Amiens, France, Macron met his wife Brigitte Trogneux under circumstances that, even decades later, still make headlines. Brigitte, born on April 13, 1953, was already an established teacher and mother of three when she crossed paths with a bright-eyed 15-year-old student at La Providence High School in the early 1990s. That student was Emmanuel Macron.
Who Is Emmanuel Macron’s Wife, Brigitte Trogneux? The French President’s Love Story and Marriage
Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Trogneux’s connection was first forged in the school’s theater club. Brigitte, then 39, was his drama teacher, directing a play in which Macron was performing. Among the many students she taught, he stood out—not just for his intellect but for his maturity and confidence. By the time he was 17, he made a bold declaration: “Whatever you do, I will marry you.” Brigitte, at the time, was married to André-Louis Auzière, a banker, and raising their three children, Sébastien (born 1975), Laurence (born 1977), and Tiphaine (born 1984). The mere thought of reciprocating feelings for a student was unthinkable for her. But Macron’s determination never wavered.
His parents, sensing the growing attachment, intervened. They assumed he was romantically involved with Laurence, their classmate, but when the truth surfaced, they were alarmed. To separate them, his parents sent him to Paris to complete his education at Lycée Henri-IV. Brigitte believed the distance would help him move on, but despite the years apart, he never let go. While he pursued his studies at Sciences Po and later École nationale d’administration (ENA), they remained in touch, exchanging letters and occasional meetings.
For Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte Trogneux, the most difficult part was her children. She knew that her relationship with Macron would inevitably affect them. “The only obstacle was my children,” she admitted years later. “I took time so I would not wreck their lives.” It took her a decade to finally make the decision to be with Macron. She divorced Auzière in 2006, and a year later, in 2007, she and Macron were married in a private ceremony in Le Touquet, a coastal town in northern France. At their wedding, Macron, then 29, made a heartfelt toast: “Thanks for accepting us, a not-quite-normal couple.”
Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Trogneux Have a 24-Year Age Gap—They Don’t Share Any Biological Children
With a 24-year age gap between them, their relationship has always been under scrutiny. Brigitte has often addressed the criticism, stating that while it wasn’t an easy journey, love prevailed. “We are not a model couple,” she said candidly. “Being a couple is complicated; it’s an everyday struggle. When you have a big age difference, it can be even more complicated.”
Emmanuel Macron, who has no biological children, embraced Brigitte’s three as his own. Today, they are all successful in their respective fields—Sébastien is a statistical engineer, Laurence is a cardiologist, and Tiphaine is a lawyer. Brigitte also has seven grandchildren, and Macron has often said he considers them part of his family. Despite not having children of their own, he has emphasized that their bond is no less significant. When questioned about it in 2017, he responded, “I have children and grandchildren of the heart.”
Throughout his political rise, Brigitte has been his unwavering pillar. She left her teaching career in 2015 to support his presidential campaign, often seen coaching him before speeches, refining his words, and offering honest feedback. When he won the presidency in 2017, she became France’s First Lady, a role she has navigated with grace, using her platform to advocate for education and child welfare.
Despite the relentless media attention, the President of France and his wife remain inseparable. Brigitte once shared that they try never to spend a night apart, even with his demanding schedule. “It comforts me when Emmanuel is by my side,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to speak for him, but I’m pretty sure he feels the same way. We’re just like any other couple. We agree, we disagree. We argue, we stop arguing. It’s very fluid.”
Over the years, their love story has been dissected, criticized, and even romanticized. But for them, it’s simple. “People don’t understand our story,” Brigitte once said. “Yet, it’s a simple story.” And in a world where love is often bound by rules, theirs stands as a testament that sometimes, love simply follows its own path.
