France's First Lady hospitalized after gossip magazine publishes rumors of Hollande affair

Valérie Trierweiler, the girlfriend of French President François Hollande, has been hospitalised after a gossip magazine claimed he was having an affair with a famous actress, officials said Sunday.

Trierweiler’s chief of staff, Patrice Biancone, confirmed Sunday that the 48-year-old journalist, who lives with Hollande, was admitted to a hospital in Paris for “rest and a few tests” on Friday – the same day a gossip magazine published photographs which appeared to show Hollande and his alleged mistress arriving separately at a flat near the presidential Elysée Palace for secret trysts.

"She has been in hospital since Friday. She will leave tomorrow," Biancone told Reuters. Asked about the future of Trierweiler's relationship with the president, Biancone said: "She needs rest. Then she will decide what to do."

Hollande, who reportedly traveled to the flat on a chauffeur-driven scooter, has slammed the tabloid’s report as an outrageous attack on the right to privacy, though he stopped short of specifically denying the affair.

On Friday a source close to the president said, "Hollande strongly deplores the invasion of his privacy, to which he has a right as any other citizen does. He is studying what action, including legal action, to take following this publication."

Rumours that Hollande was having an affair with the actress have been circulating on the internet for months.

The actress is well known in her native France and has appeared in numerous films, including a popular comedy in which she plays a vampish diplomatic adviser in the foreign ministry.