Melania Trump and Brigitte Macron led their fellow G7 wives on a tour of a traditional Basque village close to the summit in Biarritz, but Boris Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds has stayed home in the UK.
Looking relaxed and pleased in each other’s company, Mayor Jean-Marie Iputcha took the glamorous leaders’ spouses on a whirlwind tour of the village of Espelette, near to where the summit is taking place.
But conspicuous by her absence was Boris Johnson’s beau Carrie Symonds, who is understood to have not been able to make the trip due to work commitments.
The leaders’ spouses enjoy some wine alongside a beret wearing Frenchman. Pictured left-right, Melania Trump, the wine shop owner, Mayor Jean-Marie Iputcha, Brigitte Macron, Akie Abe, Malgorzata Tusk, Jenny Morrison and Cecilia Morel
Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, welcomes leaders’ spouses in Espelette, near Biarritz, southwestern France
Pictured left to right, Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, Malgorzata Tusk, wife of European Council President Donald Tusk, Chile’s First Lady Cecilia Morel, Melania Trump, Jenny Morrison, wife of Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Akie Abe, wife of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Chile’s First Lady Cecilia Morel, left, share a joke while they tour the Basque village of Espelette
Melania Trump is understood to have scouted the area in June, to prepare for the gastronomic and cultural tour in the village which is 20 miles into the Pyreness foothills.
The area is most famous for its dried red peppers called Piment d’Espelette, but also has a number of stores selling locally produced chocolate and cheese.
The ladies strolled through the picturesque village, also known for its stunning scenery, and posed outside a number of local shops, traditional Basque houses and even got the chance to taste some wine.
In picture taken outside of a bakery, Melania Trump is seen looking happy as she stands with Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, Akie Abe, wife of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chile’s First Lady Cecilia Morel, Jenny Morrison, the wife of Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Malgorzata Tusk, wife of European Council President Donald Tusk.
Pictured left to right, Akie Abe, wife of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Brigitte Macron, Chile’s First Lady Cecilia Morel, Espelette mayor Jean-Marie Iputcha, Melania Trump, Jenny Morrison, wife of Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Malgorzata Tusk, wife of European Council President Donald Tusk
Brigitte Macron looks pleased as she clutches a basket of red peppers, stood next to First Lady Melania Trump on her right, Chile’s First Lady Cecilia Morel, and Malgorzata Tusk, wife of European Council President Donald Tusk
Malgorzata Tusk (left) and US First Lady Melania Trump (right) arrive in a wine shop during a visit on traditional Basque culture in Espelette
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump looks at Espelette pepper in Espelette, near Biarritz, southwestern France, on Sunday
After the tour, they will rejoin their husbands for dinner as the G7 summit resumes, with Brexit high up on the agenda for Boris Johnson.
Just this morning Donald Trump hailed Mr Johnson as the ‘right man’ to deliver Brexit as the pair met in Biarritz for the first time since the latter became Prime Minister.
The long-anticipated meeting of the two men at the G7 summit saw Mr Trump lavish praise on Mr Johnson who he said did not need his advice on how to successfully take Britain out of the EU.
Mr Trump said: ‘He needs no advice, he is the right man for the job. I have been saying that for a long time. It didn’t make your predecessor very happy, but I have been saying that for a long time.’
Mr Johnson jokingly said Mr Trump was ‘on message there’ as the US President then described the UK’s EU membership as an ‘anchor’ and predicted a ‘very big trade deal’ being agreed once Britain has split from Brussels.