France's far-right presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella is in a relationship with Italian socialite Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, according to celebrity magazine Paris Match. In what has all the hallmarks of a staged 'scoop', this week's front page carries photographs of the couple taken recently on holiday in Corsica with the headline 'The idyll that no-one expected.' Rumours of a love affair have been circulating since January when the pair were seen together at an event in Paris to mark the 200th anniversary of Le Figaro newspaper. However, the 30-year-old president of the Rassemblement National (RN) party has consistently deflected interview questions, indicating that his private life was his 'last space of liberty.'
The Paris Match story suggests that the decision has been taken to make the relationship official. Bardella is set to run for the French presidency next year if a court rules that historic party leader Marine Le Pen is ineligible due to a conviction the party has faced. Polls indicate that either RN candidate would likely stand a good chance of winning.
Press commentators have noted that it is important for Bardella to enter the presidential campaign with clarity about his personal life and who might accompany him as first lady. However, there is also a concern within the RN about the potential backlash from poorer voters regarding the leader's association with an ultra-rich aristocrat.
Maria Carolina, also the Duchess of Calabria and Palermo, is the 22-year-old daughter of Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro. She is a distant descendant of Louis XIV of France and has been raised in a privileged environment. With her background and philanthropic interests, her public persona contrasts sharply with Bardella’s humble beginnings, having been born in a council flat in a Paris suburb.
Paris Match recently illustrated the couple's romance as a contemporary take on courtly love, emphasizing their contrasting backgrounds. The pair reportedly met during the Monaco Grand Prix in May last year, where Bardella attended with his father, an avid racing fan. This relationship could significantly influence Bardella's public image and candidacy as France moves closer to its next presidential election.
The Paris Match story suggests that the decision has been taken to make the relationship official. Bardella is set to run for the French presidency next year if a court rules that historic party leader Marine Le Pen is ineligible due to a conviction the party has faced. Polls indicate that either RN candidate would likely stand a good chance of winning.
Press commentators have noted that it is important for Bardella to enter the presidential campaign with clarity about his personal life and who might accompany him as first lady. However, there is also a concern within the RN about the potential backlash from poorer voters regarding the leader's association with an ultra-rich aristocrat.
Maria Carolina, also the Duchess of Calabria and Palermo, is the 22-year-old daughter of Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro. She is a distant descendant of Louis XIV of France and has been raised in a privileged environment. With her background and philanthropic interests, her public persona contrasts sharply with Bardella’s humble beginnings, having been born in a council flat in a Paris suburb.
Paris Match recently illustrated the couple's romance as a contemporary take on courtly love, emphasizing their contrasting backgrounds. The pair reportedly met during the Monaco Grand Prix in May last year, where Bardella attended with his father, an avid racing fan. This relationship could significantly influence Bardella's public image and candidacy as France moves closer to its next presidential election.
