Brigitte Macron is going through a very difficult time, probably one of the hardest moments of her life. The French First Lady recently faced the heartbreaking loss of her sister, Anne-Marie Trogneux, at the age of 92, to whom she was very close. Her niece Christine Hacquin, who was 68 years old, passed away just two weeks later.
French media reported the death of Christine, Anne-Marie's daughter, on Saturday, July 19. As reported by Gala, Brigitte was able to say goodbye to her niece in private. Christine had been undergoing treatment for a long illness. The grief over Christine Hacquin’s death now adds to that of Anne-Marie’s, as Brigitte has had to say goodbye to two close family members just days apart.
The circumstances of their deaths are especially tragic. Trogneux died of cardiac arrest at her home in Toulon late in the morning, according to Var-Matin. Just hours later, around 2:30 PM, her daughter Pascale Robert, 59, died in the hospital after suffering a severe stroke earlier that same day. The fact that they passed away within such a short time has deeply shaken their family and those close to them.
Anne-Marie Trogneux, Brigitte Macron’s older sister, died in early July. The French First Lady barely had time to process the loss before being called to fulfill a major duty: a state visit to the United Kingdom with her husband. Brigitte didn’t miss the trip and attended all scheduled events. Still, many noticed she seemed distant—something that now makes perfect sense.
Back in France, on July 14, Brigitte Macron took part in the Bastille Day celebrations and the traditional military parade in Paris. She also participated in her sister's funeral in Amiens, and last week, she made an appearance at the funeral of Thierry Ardisson, a well-known French TV producer and presenter. Throughout it all, Brigitte has been balancing her public duties with the private grief she’s been carrying for weeks.
Sadly, Brigitte is no stranger to family tragedy. The youngest of six siblings, she lost one sister, Maryvonne, in a car accident in 1961 at just 27 years old. Her brother Jean-Claude also passed away in 2018 at the age of 85. Now, she finds herself mourning again after two more heartbreaking losses, grieving quietly and in private.
This tragedy has cast a shadow over the French presidency, highlighting the personal pain endured by the First Family amidst their public duties.