Valerie Trierweiler has broken her silence to contact a radio station from hospital, denying that Fran?ois Hollande had declined to visit her and insisting instead that he had been barred from doing so by doctors.

"She doesn't want to people to think he is neglecting her at such a painful time," said a reporter for RTL radio in France, after speaking to the de facto First Lady.

"It was the doctors who had forbidden the head of state to visit her, it is a widespread practice in case of psychological distress. The patient is temporarily confined, kept at distance from their entourage to get better."

Miss Trierweiler, who was taken to hospital on Friday after hearing about Mr Hollande's alleged affair with actress Julie Gayet, was still under observation in the Salpétrière hospital in Paris.

"She is still very tired to the extent that she cannot stand up. Her blood pressure and morale are low but she hopes to leave with her head held high to and is prepared to fight, at least for her dignity," RTL said she told the station.

She further added that he had sent her flowers and chocolates, and said that she had not suffered a nervous breakdown but rather “extreme fatigue.”

And yet in a sign that the battle to save or sacrifice their relationship is now playing out via the media, an Elysée source told RTL radio that the president was “not unhappy” about the hospital orders forbidding him to visit.

Earlier on Thursday, sources said that Miss Trierweiler was determined to "stand by her man" and fight to save the relationship.

Le Nouvel Observateur, the Left-leaning weekly magazine reported, she has “not the slightest intention of packing her bags”.

“OK to forgive, but no OK to leave,” it wrote, saying she intended to “stand by her man”, like Hillary Clinton after the Monica Lewinsky affair.

He has promised to “clarify” the situation before a visit to the White House on February 11.