Sarkozy’s father says Carla Bruni is pregnant

Rumours that Carla Bruni, the wife of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, is pregnant appear to have been confirmed by her father-in-law, who spilled the beans in an interview with German newspaper Bild after weeks of speculation.

Although there has still been no official confirmation, rumours have been circulating since last month and the comments from 82-year-old Pal Sarkozy in the most widely-read paper in Europe are the clearest indication yet that she is expecting a child.

Sarkozy Snr told the paper: "I'm glad to be having a grandchild." He added: "The two do not want to know the gender in advance, but I'm sure it will be a girl and as beautiful as Carla."

His comments come after a tantalising appearance from Bruni on French television on Monday. She was interviewed on the lunchtime news show on the TF1 channel about her charity work, while presenter Jean-Pierre Pernaut did a sterling job of ignoring the elephant in the room and steadfastly avoided asking her if she and the president were to become parents.

However, there was an intriguing exchange at the end of the encounter when Pernaut told Bruni: "I know you hate to talk about your private life, but I would like to congratulate you." Bruni's response was a coy laugh and the mysterious reply: "I congratulate you, too."

The rumours that she was expecting first surfaced in April, when a celebrity magazine reported that she was three months pregnant. Bruni also missed a planned appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, citing "personal reasons". She was expected to attend a screening of Woody Allen's latest romantic comedy, Midnight in Paris, in which she has a small part.

It has been claimed that because of Bruni's age (she is 43), the pregnancy is seen as 'high-risk' which is why no official announcement has been made. She already has one son from a previous relationship, and Sarkozy has three sons from two earlier marriages.

With a presidential election looming, Sarkozy - a deeply unpopular figure - may benefit in the polls from becoming a father again. But whether Sarkozy Snr's comments can be taken as confirmation of the pregnancy remains to be seen. It has been claimed a rift exists between father and son dating back to Pal's decision to leave his mother when Nicolas was just three. ·