Jean d’Ormesson, who was once ranked as the youngest member of the prestigious Academie Francaise, died on Tuesday at the age of 92. 

Emmanuel Macron, 39, referred to the French novelist, philosopher and journalist as a ‘prince of letter’. 

The ceremony took place at the Invalides in Paris and the couple paid their respects by following members of the Republican Guard, who were carrying the coffin. 

They were joined by the likes of former French President Francois Hollande, French singer Carla Bruni, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and French academician Jean Marie Rouart. 

Brigitte, 64, and Emmanuel wore traditional black for the ceremony and co-ordinated in similar looking amrt black coats. 

Their coats were thigh length, and differed slightly in design - Brigitte's had buttons going up the right and no lapel, while Emmanuel's resembled more of a suit jacket. 

The former school teacher also showed off her slim legs by wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, and kept out the cold with a pair of ahiny black boots and black leather gloves. 

But she broke up her almost entirely black outfit with the white turtle neck jumper she wore underneath. 

Brigitte finished off the look by sweeping her hair up and off her face and heavy black eye-make up. 

Jean d'Ormesson was a very public face among the usually discreet 'immortals' of the prestigious Academie Francaise. 

A cause for the author's death is yet to be confirmed. 

Mr d'Ormesson wrote around 50 boks and essays, starting in 1956.

Despite his prolific writings he was not widely translated into other languages. 

Brigitte was last pictured out and about on Tuesday when she attended the naming ceremony of France's first panda. 

After being named "godmother" to the cub back in the summer, she attended the event at Beauval Zoo. 

The infant bear's name was revealed to be Yuan Meng.