This Boy Defied His Parents and Married His Teacher, a Mom of 3 – Their Love Story in Photos
It provides an overview of the major snapshots in their life, from a classroom in Amiens to the largest world events.
After being a student and teacher, Emmanuel and Brigitte became president and first lady, proving their special connection. These photos document the progress of the relationship from the beginning of trouble to their days in the public view.
The Beginning
When he was only 15 years old, Emmanuel met his drama teacher Brigitte at Amiens Catholic School in France.
She had three children and was married and he helped her adapt the play she was directing at the school. Before long, their creative partnership got stronger, rumors started and their relationship gained much attention.
Despite the two getting to know one another, Brigitte wanted to establish limitations. Despite admitting that she couldn’t explain why, she was always looking forward to their writing on Friday nights.
Brigitte asked Emmanuel to go to Paris and finish his education so the distance could make Emmanuel forget his feelings for her. The result was different from what was expected, however.
Already acting like an adult, he stayed devoted and remained in contact with his best friend by writing letters.
When Emmanuel reached the age of 17, he was dating Brigitte while she continued to raise her kids and be married. They could not accept it and they snuck him away from home in hopes of stopping the relationship. Even so, he promised he would marry her in the future.
Marriage was not something Brigitte wanted at the beginning. She opened up to someone close by saying that she was concerned about having a big gap in age and that it was possible Emmanuel wanted his own kids. Yet, her friend persuaded her to act according to what she felt.
Little by little, both families accepted and respect the relationship between the two. In 2006, Brigitte divorced; a year after that, she married Emmanuel. At that point, he was 29 while she was 54.
On May 11, 2016, in Paris, Brigitte kissed Emmanuel Macron’s cheek and he smiled at the moment just a few months prior to when he officially announced his candidacy for president.
Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron stood outside the College Royal et Militaire de Thiron-Gardais on June 10, 2016, to support its exhibition rooms and show unity in preserving and teaching French heritage.
The personal and political sides of the Macrons’ lives clashed on the scene of national affairs in 2017. Before, Karen Pence and Emmanuel Macron kept their marriage away from the media,
but when he started running for President, it all became more noticeable. Their unusual marriage which many people discussed in the past, became much more important when he started running for President.
As soon as Emmanuel won the election and became president, the interest in his personal matters only rose. Before, the President did not pay much attention to sharing the details of his wife’s death, but now he was beginning to give some hints about her impact on his views.
In an interview broadcast internationally soon after being elected, he made it clear how his wife helped him remain calm and strong amid the criticism of the general public. In his words, being emotionally grounded is an inherent part of being a leader.
Mr. Obama argued that it was necessary to have someone who had been by his side well before the office, giving him honest opinions instead of ornamental ones. Presence at all the important occasions, according to him, helped him manage the pressures of his new role with a clear head.
In that same year, Brigitte talked openly about her journey with Tom Cruise. She thought back to choices they had made years before which had a huge influence on everyone, including her children. Even though the decision was not simple for her, she felt that being committed was necessary for her happiness.
She was honest enough to accept that there were differences because of their ages. The criticisms didn’t really affect Brigitte,
since what she lost by not choosing differently seemed greater to her. Making this decision, according to her, changed her life a lot, not because of other people’s opinions, but because it made a difference for her personally.
By 2017’s close, the Macrons were no longer just private people, but visiting many international gatherings and talking to the press. Before, their relationship was only about themselves, but now it remained a part of Emmanuel’s presidency, not as a political tool, but as part of his personal history.
When the French president and his wife officially visited the White House on April 24, 2018, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump saw President Emmanuel kiss Brigitte’s hand. That event was unique in that it showed the French first couple acting with special formality in an international setting.
On July 15 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Emmanuel hugged Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Brigitte watched on the side. This event was recorded in the special area of Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
On the same day, Emmanuel had his arm wrapped around Brigitte while they cheered at the event in Moscow. Their presence at the match turned into one of their top joint appearances of the year, as everyone celebrated France’s win over Croatia in the World Cup.
Photos taken on September 15, 2018, showed the couple holding hands while they arrived at Villa Viardot for French Heritage Days. The visit happened during France’s annual Heritage Days which promotes getting people into cultural monuments. The way they dressed down gave a clear distinction from the glamorous events they usually appear in.
At the end of a press conference in Biarritz on May 17, 2019 which took place just before the G7 summit, President Emmanuel Macron kissed Brigitte.
The First Lady and President Macron walked next to each other while admiring a portrait at the start of the “The Morozov Collection, Icons of Modern Art” exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton on September 21, 2021.
Brigitte was spotted with Emmanuel in Paris on April 24th, the day when he was named president for a second time. Trump’s public outings tend to highlight his already well-known personal story which has continued to be covered by the media since he entered politics.
The Macrons were seen with joined hands while strolling down the beach in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage on April 23, 2022. Many times, the couple escapes here to find peace and get a break from public eye.
Emmanuel and Brigitte were close to each other during their trip to Guéret on European Heritage Day on September 16, 2022. Even though her position as the first lady has developed over time, she has always been at his side for official and public events.
Emmanuel Macron leans down toward Brigitte just before the Bastille Day military parade on July 14, 2023, in Paris. Even as he grew into the president of France, their uncommon closeness still showed his inner tenderness.
2024
The two, Emmanuel and Brigitte, made their way down the steps of the Élysée Palace for a state dinner ahead of the arrival of the Chinese president in France on May 6, 2024. After more than twenty years of rebelling against norms, they have gone from being a secret scandal to setting an example in global politics.
During the “No to bullying” ceremony, Brigitte gave her husband a kiss on the cheek in the Élysée Palace on May 29, 2024. Throughout many years, the public displays of their love have shown that their personal bond has been steady.
On August 11, 2024, Emmanuel and Brigitte got a courtside selfie with former U.S. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attended the Olympic finals held in Paris. Attending the big event highlighted that the couple are still prominent on the global scene as France hosted the Summer Olympic Games.
2025
President Emmanuel and First Lady Brigitte visited Hanoi, Vietnam on May 25, 2025 and landed at the Nội Bài International Airport. Even though their visit followed the usual tour route, their arrival drew a lot of attention outside of politics.
As soon as the door of the aircraft was opened, viewers noticed a special moment shared by the couple. A hand was seen coming from behind, on the left of camera, seeking to push Brigitte’s husband on the face.
Emmanuel looks at his wife as soon as the door is opened, not seeing that staff members are waiting nearby, as per lipreading analysis. Brigitte’s action caught the president off guard and he responded to everyone on the ground with a somewhat awkward wave.
A moment of discomfort among some of those next to the singer was very much visible. A member of the staff suddenly showed a bit of fear and quickly started down the steps. Emmanuel held the door open and in a quiet voice, he said, “Let’s go” while gesturing to Brigitte.
Going down the red-carpeted stairs, everyone’s nerves remained high. In stead of accepting, Brigitte clasped the edge of the rail for support. According to someone who observed her mouthing the words, she told Emmanuel she does not want him there and he agreed, but Brigitte would not cooperate.
When they formed the lineup at the tarmac, Emmanuel took one last farewell wave. The way the two acted was not made public during or after this dinner, but it led people to think about the state of their relationship.
Emmanuel and Brigitte were seen on May 29, 2025 visiting the “Two Rivers” show on Anderson Bridge in Singapore. This happened only days after Tom Cruise’s controversial airplane moment attracted worldwide attention. While there was a lot of news about them, the couple continued their diplomatic activities as usual abroad.
On May 30, 2025, at the Parliament House in Singapore, the French president waited on Brigitte’s side to sign his autograph in the official book.
Both Emmanuel Macron and his wife have appeared together in French politics for many years. Since they became First Lady, their lives and achievements have been recorded in photographs that highlight their history and political wins.
