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Marrakech – Princess Lalla Meryem represented King Mohammed VI at the funeral of former French First Lady Bernadette Chirac in Paris on Friday. The ceremony took place at the Basilique Sainte-Clotilde in the 7th arrondissement, a location of deep significance for the Chirac family.
Princess Lalla Meryem was received upon her arrival at the basilica by Claude Chirac, the daughter of the deceased. She took her place inside the church alongside Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. Morocco’s Ambassador to Paris, Samira Sitail, also attended the ceremony.
The monarch had earlier addressed a message of condolences and compassion to Claude Chirac following her mother’s passing. In the letter, the King expressed having learned of Bernadette Chirac’s death with “profound emotion,” conveying his “sincere condolences” and “compassion” to Claude Chirac and all members of her family.
“The Kingdom of Morocco will cherish the memory of a personality of great distinction who faithfully embodied a rich heritage of human, family, and patriotic values,” the sovereign wrote. “We pay tribute to the memory of a woman who, alongside President Jacques Chirac, a sincere friend of Morocco and its people, demonstrated constant esteem toward the Kingdom.”
The monarch recalled the bonds of “mutual consideration, shared trust, and faithful friendship” that united the Chirac family and the Moroccan royal family over the years. Those ties, the King noted, contributed to consolidating the exceptional relations between Morocco and France.
“We hold toward your late mother a particular personal affection, woven from precious shared memories,” the sovereign affirmed. “We share your grief and assure you of Our full solidarity in these moments of remembrance and tribute.”
Bernadette Chirac, widow of former President Jacques Chirac, died on Friday, June 5, at the age of 93. She remains the only French First Lady to have held elected office in her own name, serving as a Corrèze departmental councillor without interruption from 1979 to 2015.
The basilica, which seats 650, was partly open to the public. The forecourt was fitted with speakers so attendees outside could follow the Mass. Only one person addressed the gathering during the ceremony: Martin Rey-Chirac, 30, the couple’s sole grandson.
Former Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande were both present, accompanied by their respective spouses Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Julie Gayet.
Former Prime Ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Dominique de Villepin, Michel Barnier, and Édouard Philippe also attended, along with Senate President Gérard Larcher, former ministers Jack Lang and Roselyne Bachelot, and close family friend Line Renaud.
The Basilique Sainte-Clotilde holds particular resonance for the Chirac family. Bernadette and Jacques Chirac were married in the adjacent chapel. The same venue hosted the 2016 funeral of their eldest daughter, Laurence.
Following the ceremony, Bernadette Chirac was interred in the family vault at the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris. A further tribute is scheduled for Sunday in Corrèze, with a religious ceremony in Tulle and a public gathering at the Domaine de Sédières, open to all residents of the department.
