The French President said the question implied the journalist had “a very infelicitous experience” of what being married meant.

He criticized some “wretched articles we have seen in the past few weeks” - but said he had been “deeply moved” by what had been written in the UK. Earlier this month he abandoned a lawsuit against The Nouvel Observateur over a story that he sent a text message to his ex-wife Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz - a week before marrying Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy - offering to take her back.

The magazine apologized to Ms Bruni, but the reporter involved refused to retract the story entirely. The couple also attracted negative headlines during their high profile courtship and marriage.
But Mr Sarkozy told the press conference at Arsenal football club he was “very proud” of his wife.

He added: “I think she has been an honor to our country, not simply because of the way she looks, but beyond that everyone understands that this is a woman who has beliefs, sensitivity, a humane person, and this sensitivity, these beliefs, this humanity, are what contribute to Carla’s elegance.”