BeritaTREN.COM

They seem to be making the most of every second together before the arrival of their baby later this year.

French First Lady Carla Bruni and husband Nicolas Sarkozy were spotted looking very affecionate as they enjoyed a beachside stroll during their break at the Fort de Bregancon, a presidential retreat on the Mediterranean coast.

The couple kept their arms firmly entwined and enjoyed a series of kisses and cuddles as they took a boat ride and later enjoyed a stroll back to their temporary home.

While Miss Bruni has yet to officially confirm her pregnancy, her burgeoning bump was clear to see under her sheer purple shirt.

Mr Sarkozy, who went for a casual look in black shorts and a white T-shirt, appeared very protective of his wife during their day out, giving her his hand as he helped her onto the boat and even patting her baby bump as they stood on the deck of their chartered boat.

The Sarkozy's new arrival will be a second child for Miss Bruni, who already has a 10-year-old, Aurelien, from a previous relationship. Her husband also has three sons: Pierre, Jean and Louis.

While the couple have not yet released a statement about the pregnancy, one of the first people to comment on the rumours was Miss Bruni's father-in-law Pal Sarkozy, who told German newspaper Bil: ‘I’m glad to be having a grandchild.’

In contrast, Miss Bruni has chosen to keep things vague. In one interview with French daily newspaper Le Parisien Miss Bruni offered a rambling explanation about why she is keen to keep her pregnancy a secret.

She said: ‘Around 180 per cent of the time my husband is dealing with his country. He only talks about that. He does nothing else.

‘Then me, I speak about something, it takes precedence over everything he does. I would love to talk, but it involves other people. So I do not answer.’