Jordan Bardella's aristocratic girlfriend sparks image crisis for French far‑right leader

Jordan Bardella, president of the French Rassemblement National (RN), is under growing political pressure because of his public relationship with Maria Carolina de Bourbon‑Două Sicilii, the 23‑year‑old daughter of the Duke of Castro. The princess’s family controls assets worth more than €130 million in offshore trusts, a detail that clashes with the RN’s anti‑elite, working‑class narrative.

Bardella was filmed at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix with his partner and other VIPs at a time when France was mourning the rape and murder of an 11‑year‑old girl. When asked on television whether his attendance was inappropriate, he replied, “Is this a serious question? There are silent marches every day.” The remark drew swift criticism, and party insiders described the Monaco appearance as “a mistake” and “bad sequence.”

Left‑wing opponents are using the episode to accuse the RN of shifting toward “ultra‑liberalism,” while internal party officials warn that the “bling‑bling” image could alienate core supporters ahead of the 2027 presidential election, especially if Marine Le Pen remains barred from running.