Smiling Trierweiler reflects on time as France's first lady

Valerie Trierweiler, the ex-partner of French President Francois Hollande, stressed the positives of her time as First Lady as she reappeared in public Monday, displaying no rancour over her treatment. The 48-year-old began a two-day trip to India to support French charity Action Against Hunger, saying she "felt good" in a country she last visited with Hollande in February 2013 in her official role. Initially avoiding questions about the end of their relationship, announced at the weekend by Hollande, she later opened up at a press conference where she spoke briefly of her time in the presidential palace. "The verdict, I don't know if that's for me to do or you," she told dozens of reporters, who followed her around all day as she visited a hospital, a slum and a fund-raising lunch. "I was there (in the presidential palace) for 19 months and I think I came to know people I didn't know before and even a part of me which I was unaware of. I won't be the same after this experience," she admitted. Hollande announced to AFP on Saturday that he was splitting from Trierweiler, his partner of eight years, following intense media scrutiny over his relationship with French actress Julie Gayet, 41. The break-up followed revelations two weeks ago in Closer magazine that the 59-year-old leader had been having an affair with Gayet, whom he allegedly visited late at night on a motor scooter. Thoughout the day, a smiling Trierweiler betrayed no signs of the strain which led her to be hospitalised for a week due to fatigue after the news broke of the relationship. The separation has fuelled debate in France about whether an official role is necessary for a president's partner and the extent to which the private lives of public figures should be exposed by the press. 'Feeling very good' Trierweiler arrived in India late on Sunday and initially insisted she would only discuss her work promoting Action Against Hunger, which organised her trip to the Indian financial capital. During a visit to a facility for premature babies on Monday morning, she ignored questions about how she was feeling as reporters jostled for space before bemused patients at the Sion hospital. Wearing a dark blue skirt and jacket with heels, she then visited another medical centre in the famed Dharavi slum which features in the hit "Slumdog Millionaire" film. "I'm feeling very good about being here," the 48-year-old later told the press conference at the five-star Taj Mahal hotel, where she was to attend a gala dinner on Monday night. "This visit has been in my diary for the last six months and we have been planning it for the last year. I wouldn't have missed it for the world," she added. During her visit with Hollande last year, the twice-married career journalist spent time at a shelter for street children in New Delhi and spoke of her desire as First Lady to become a champion of children's rights. Her visit to India, during which she has been accompanied by French actress and campaigner Charlotte Valandrey, has been funded by private donors, according to the charity. A 'necessary' split A source in her entourage told AFP at the weekend that the former first lady and Hollande were "on good terms", adding they had lunched together on Thursday to finalise the end of their relationship. Labour Minister Michel Sapin, who is close to Hollande, said Sunday the separation "was necessary for the sake of clarity". Hollande has stressed that he has no intention of speaking about his private life despite attacks from opponents in France who have slammed his alleged infidelity. He has four children from former partner Segolene Royal, a Socialist party presidential candidate in 2007 from whom he officially split shortly after her defeat by Nicolas Sarkozy. Hollande then started living openly with Trierweiler, who assumed the role of first lady at official functions after his election in 2012. "I believe that everybody now understands that president or not president, one is entitled to have a private life," Hollande told Time magazine on Saturday.