Military jets trailing exhaust in the red, white and blue of the French flag opened Francois Hollande's first Bastille Day parade as president yesterday.

But a family feud involving Hollande's current partner, his former partner, his son and an apparently vindictive tweet, cast something of a cloud across the day's celebrations.

First lady Valerie Trierweiler watched the parade as speculation grew that Hollande would give a speech this weekend, responding to the family fall-out. The president is also expected to address the major domestic and international challenges facing France.