Brigitte Macron to sue over false claims she was born male

Brigitte Macron is set to take legal action over an internet conspiracy theory that she is a transgender woman and was born male.

The French first lady has been targeted on social media with the false claims, after they were published on a far-right website in September then circulated by conspiracy theorists.

The rumours claim she was born male under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux.

The name has trended on social media with tens of thousands of mentions.

A lawyer for Mrs Macron - who is the mother of three adult children from her first marriage - confirmed she is taking action.

"She has decided to initiate proceedings, it is in progress," lawyer Jean Ennochi confirmed to the AFP news agency.