Bruni wins France’s affections

It seems Carla Bruni's visit to Britain last month, when the model-turned-singer won comparisons with Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana, has helped her win the affection of the French public after initial misgivings. According to a poll published on Sunday by Le Parisien newspaper, nine out of 10 French people see her as "elegant" and "modern". Some 73 per cent described her as "nice", 69 per cent as "intelligent" and 60 per cent agreed she will help modernise the image of France.

The findings come in direct contrast to her husband's popularity ratings which have remained stuck below the 40 per cent mark since February. In a separate poll at the weekend, confidence in the president was at 37 per cent. More than half those polled said they did not trust Nicolas Sarkozy to solve France's problems.

Carla still has some way to go before she reaches the level of popularity earned by France's previous First Lady, Bernadette Chirac. Asked which of France's seven modern leaders' wives had represented their country well, Mme Chirac came top with 81 per cent while Bruni languished in sixth place with 43 per cent. But she can take comfort in beating Cecilia, Sarkozy's last wife, who divorced him five months after he took office. Her approval rating was 36 per cent.

It is not clear whether Carla's popularity was helped or hindered by the widespread publication - on the eve of her London visit - of a nude photo of the First Lady taken in 1993, during her modelling days. The photograph by Michel Comte is among 140 images being auctioned this week at Christie's in New York by the German collector Gert Elfering.