最新爆料:卡拉·布鲁尼·萨科齐怀的是双胞胎

Carla Bruni is pregnant with twins at the age of 43, according to the latest reports.

The former supermodel has been at the centre of frenzied media speculation this week that she is expecting her first child with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Now glossy showbiz magazine Voici claims that she is expecting twins in October.

The claims come after Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy – who is also said to have given up smoking – herself hinted she and her 56-year-old husband were expecting a baby.

When asked directly if she was pregnant in an interview on Monday, she replied teasingly that she would "remain tight-lipped about that to protect something".

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy was asked by one of six readers of Le Parisien newspaper invited to the Elysee Palace to interview her: "Are you expecting a baby?"

She answered: "If you'll allow me, I'd rather not answer these questions about my family.

"I'd love to talk to you woman to woman about my family life, my personal dreams – and I'm really a very chatty person.

"But on this subject, I'm going to keep quiet. Not through arrogance or because I like keeping secrets.

"I am remaining tight-lipped about that to protect something."

She went on: "I would really like to to talk about it, but then it would take over everything else.

"And besides, it also involves people, so I'm not answering."

The first claims of a pregnancy emerged in France's Closer magazine last week. News magazine VSD then said the claims had been confirmed in off-the-record remarks by a senior aide to President Sarkozy.

If the rumours are true, then the French media agree the birth is ideally timed to happen well before Sarkozy begins campaigning for the presidential elections in May 2012.

The president's communication chief at the Elysee Palace Elysee, Franck Louvrier, has refused to officially confirm the latest rumours.

He would only comment: "This is a subject that is none of my business." -11:48AM BST 03 May 2011

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy has often spoken of her desire to have children with Mr Sarkozy Photo: REX