Danielle Lloyd shows off her washboard abs in a tiny yellow bikini after revealing she lost two stone following shock cancer diagnosis
The former Miss England, 41, looked incredible in the Shein swimwear, which she paired with a stylish pair of black and gold sunglasses in the throwback snap from a recent holiday to Ibiza.
Keeping it cool, she wore her hair back, showing off her Hollywood white smile.
The mum-of-five then added a touch of glamour to the outfit with silver earrings and a Van Cleef clover bracelet.
Fans were quick to flood the post with impressed comments, with one remarking that Danielle has a better body than a 20-year-old.
They wrote: 'No words. Insane how u look better than 20 year olds and [you've] got five kids.'
Fans were quick to flood the post with impressed comments, with one remarking that Danielle has a better body than a 20-year-old
Other fans of the model praised: 'You look amazing'; 'Perfect' and 'Looking great'.
Danielle's latest bikini snap comes after the star showcased her abs earlier this month after opening up about her shock two-stone weight loss.
The star's dramatic weight drop followed her cancer diagnosis in February, which saw her undergo treatment for skin cancer (melanoma) before being given the all-clear in April.
This time, she showcased her toned abs in a bright red frilly top in a selfie that saw her relaxing in the warm weather.
The mother-of-five paired the bikini top with red and white striped crochet drawstring shorts as she lounged on the sofa.
Danielle captioned the snap: 'Life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be lived. Sometimes happy, other times rough... But every up and down you learn lessons that make you strong.'
The model similarly showcased her slim physique in a red Shein bikini on June 18 and looked similarly relaxed as she posed on a hotel balcony.
After she was diagnosed with the deadliest form of skin cancer, she explained that she was in such fear for her life that she struggled to eat and sleep.
Danielle admitted to The Sun last month: 'Being a mum, I was trying to put a brave face on for everyone, but inside I've been crumbling.
'I was worried every single day that I was going to die.'
Danielle shares son Ronnie, seven, and three-year-old daughter Autumn Rose, with husband Michael O'Neill, as well as sons Archie, 14, Harry, 13, and George, 11, with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara.
Symptoms of melanoma include a new mole or changes to an existing mole, which is exactly what happened to the star, when she noticed one on her collarbone was changing shape.
After tragically losing a friend to bowel cancer the previous year, she knew it was worth investigating and visited her GP, who referred her to a dermatologist who advised removal.
This took place in December, but Danielle had to wait an agonising nine weeks before she was diagnosed.
Recalling her reaction, she said: 'I just burst into tears. I wasn't expecting it. When I heard the word 'cancer', I just thought, "That's it, I'm going to die."'
She then had to have the skin surrounding the mole removed as a preventative measure as doctors worked to establish whether or not the cancer had spread.
Thankfully, eight weeks after her February procedure, Danielle was told she was cancer-free.
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- The Guardian
Barbarella, London E14: ‘A large scoop of Lady Gaga does House of Gucci' – restaurant review
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
From budget sunnies to the perfect semi-short shorts: 69 summer style updates and hacks
There is a very specific panic around summer dressing – all that flesh on show, for starters. So it always seems strange just how little thought we give to it. Obviously you care what you look like, but think how much time and energy you put into finding the perfect winter coat, or boots to see you through the post-Christmas doldrums. Some of you probably save up, or at least try on a few different styles to see what you like. Compare that to choosing a swimsuit or shorts. How often do you buy something the day before you go on holiday, or even at the airport? You'll probably spend more time in your coat and boots but still, it's a bit daft panic-buying some sandals before finding out, mid-hike, that the back strap rubs your heel and they slip off the moment your feet get sweaty. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The truth is that aside from the fact that people equate wearing fewer clothes with being cooler – not true! – it's very hard to know what to wear when the sun comes out. So we are here to help. How about a tank that needs no bra, a swimsuit that doubles as a top, and a quick-dry, no-towel towel? Or a T-shirt for the guys that's cocktail-approved – and a hat the kids will actually wear? The perfect summer look is a mythical unicorn, but there are things you can invest in now that will see you through until late September and, ideally, multiple summers to Ferrier The full-coverage dress your summer wardrobe needs £85 at Mint Velvet Counterintuitive though it is, the summer dress I wear most has long sleeves and is almost ankle length. A full-coverage but super-light dress is so much more useful than any number of itsy-bitsy sundresses. It keeps the rays off if it's hot, the air conditioning off when you're inside, and doesn't leave you goosebumpy in the evening. Great for holiday days, office days, travelling days. Look for one you can wear with a bra – this one has a cut-out at the back, but above bra-strap height – and ensure it's a generous fit. The cami that works as evening wear £40 at Marks & Spencer A friend asked me the other day if she could borrow 'that lovely Stella McCartney camisole'. Turns out she meant this, which is actually a silk camisole from M&S. So chic for a night out with jeans, blazer and kitten heels. A clash course Instead of striped trousers and a plain T-shirt, try clashing your prints. Think stripes and florals. Leopard and polka dots. Camo and gingham. The more unexpected, the better. A tank top with a built-in bra £19.90 at Uniqlo If you have huge boobs, this isn't going to work, so apologies, but for many women, a top with a built-in bra is ideal when you want that sleek, no-bra-strap vest-top look but also a bit of support. I love these Uniqlo ones because the support layer is totally invisible, and the tank isn't too tight. The £35 M&S swimsuit that's a modern classic £35 at M&S Two years ago, I bought a black neoprene scallop-edged bikini from M&S. I love it so much that this year I added the one-piece version. I have it in emerald, which is now sold out, but the tomato red is possibly even nicer, and the white is very Talented Mr Ripley coded. The not-too-long, not-too-short shorts £59 at Nobody's Child It's not so much that I'm too old to wear baggy knee-length shorts – no one is too old to wear anything – it's more that I'm old enough to know I don't have to wear anything that makes me feel ridiculous just because it's fashionable. Same goes for tiny Daisy Dukes. A short that hits the mid‑point of the thigh is the answer. This length can look a bit dowdy in linen, so I'd go with denim. And possibly a belt for added smarts. An out-of-office shirt £98 at Anthropologie Because sometimes you just really want something whimsical and holiday-fabulous. An embroidered boxy shirt is a good choice, because the laid-back silhouette offsets the cutesiness. This one is just joyful. The Mary Jane-ballerina hybrid £119 at Massimo Dutti Maryrina? Ballet-Jane? The name needs work, but the style – a cross between a sturdy ballet flat and a Mary Jane – is a new staple. It looks great with baggy trousers, as it adds just enough femininity without sacrificing cool. A statement belt £46 at John Lewis My buy of the season is a secondhand leather belt with YSL hardware on the buckle, which I found for £30 on Depop. Charity shops are an excellent hunting ground too: you can get a leather belt for the price of something plastic on the high street that will age badly and end up in landfill. Alternatively, this Boden belt is a classic in a divine colour. The oh-so-versatile silk scarf Instead of trying to transport a sunhat in your suitcase, use a silk scarf to protect your scalp from the sun. You can also follow Alexa Chung's lead and use it to add pizzazz to wardrobe basics such as jeans and a white T-shirt by knotting it around your waist. You will find the best versions on vintage sites. For bold, punchy prints, look for versions from the 1960s and 70s. A delicious chocolate beach dress £11.99 at Zara I have tried on a lot of open-knit beach cover-ups over the past few summers, and these are my condensed thoughts: short and sweet is, surprisingly, easier and more flattering than full coverage. The string-vest ones make you look like a large fish caught in a net – an embroidered pattern, as here, is better. Black, brown or navy are most useful. I like this one. An elegant update on skinny white jeans £39 at H&M A baggy bottom half of your silhouette is No 1 on your does-my-outfit-look-contemporary list now. These gorgeous trousers are the perfect modernising switch out for tight white jeans. The wrong-shoe theory This theory is the quickest way of making a look more interesting. Think tailored trousers and a flip-flop. Sporty shorts and a ballerina flat. A wedding-guest-worthy dress that looks designer – for under £100 £93.57 at Damson Madder How delicious is this dress by small, independent London-based brand Damson Madder? Quirky-elegant Simone Rocha vibes for under £100, as it's reduced from its £125 RRP. A few sizes are (unsurprisingly) sold out, but it was still available in sizes 10 and 20 at the time of writing. Quite tempted by the matching ruffle stripe bag also (£41.25) – is that wrong? A chic summer (cardi) jacket £125 at & Other Stories Knits make great summer jackets – they're lightweight and don't crease, so you can roll them up and stash them in your basket when the sun's out. This one's simple shape will work with shorts and a T-shirt; but the gold buttons and glimmer of Lurex elevate it so it works over a party dress too. The mini-purse £7 at Three Potato Four I recently stumbled across these retro rubber coin purses online and bought not one but three for different family members. They are seriously practical and double up as cute bag charms. Pop some change in for emergency ice-creams. A sturdy kaftan £125 at Toast Every beach wardrobe needs a kaftan, and if poppy colours aren't your thing, have a look at this Toast version in 'washed lime'. Just add tan sandals, a basket bag and an aperitivo. The splashproof bag £40 at Yeti Make any tote beach friendly with this one-litre waterproof pouch. It has enough space to keep all your essentials dry, and comes in lots of fun, sweetie-coloured shades. An in-between hat £45 at Glassworks London I'm a fan of a baseball cap, and I'm looking to add a raffia version to my wardrobe. It's more casual and sportier than a traditional straw hat, and a lot easier to pack, plus the peak will do an excellent job of keeping off the sun. The cocktail tee £24 at Next Slogan tees are everywhere at the moment, and this pastel-green style is punchy but subtle at the same time. Wear it with some white denim cutoffs. One guess what I'm ordering at the bar. Vintage-style shorts £22 at Next Towelling shorts remind me of the best kind of California beach photos, 1970s Slim Aarons and Hugh Holland, all sunkissed tans and hazy colours. This pair from Next ticks all the right retro boxes – just add a white vest. The sea-to-be-seen swimsuit/top £26.80 at Arket£67 at Asos Buy a one-piece that will double up as a top half to a daytime look – a two‑in-one buy. This rust-coloured swimsuit from Arket will look chic with white linen trousers or a maxi skirt, and the ruching is a considered design detail. For more inspiration, read our guide to the best women's bikinis and swimsuits for summer A beach-friendly hair tie £20 at Hunza G Salty water, sand and a sea breeze don't so much give my hair a beach wave as give it a seriously bedraggled look. So I always pack one of my favourite scrunchies from Hunza G. They've got great hold, come in a multitude of colours, and look just as good around your wrist as they do in your hair. The no-towel towel £14.99 at H&M Packing for a beach day? You'll need a towel. And a thin hammam style is my go-to. It will squash into any bag and dry super quickly. I like to get double the use out of it and wear it as a sarong as well. It's thin enough, and most styles are lovely pastel colours with cotton tassels that work perfectly with beach outfits. And even if it's a bit damp on your way to the beach cafe, chances are in 10 minutes it will be dry. Budget sunnies £12.99 at H&M I like to invest in a pair of beach sunglasses. They're a cheaper alternative to the ones I wear for sightseeing (and they're usually a bit more fun than said 'proper sunglasses'). That way, it's OK if I drop them in the sand or sea. I really like this pair with coloured lenses. Ideal for wave jumping. The cover-up you probably already own The enduring popularity of an oversized linen shirt means you probably have one in your wardrobe already, and it's the chicest of beach cover-ups. Wear it open over your bikini, then tie it at the waist with a pair of cutoff shorts for a day trip. A straw-free summer bag €180 (about £156) at Call It By Your Name I've been hankering after a bag from French brand Call It By Your Name for a couple of years now. Its picnic bag style is just as good for the beach as it is for the park, with lots of easy-access pockets for all your bits and bobs. I adore the colours and, although not cheap, the bag will definitely be the main character of your beach wardrobe. Investment flip-flops £95 at Ancient Greek Sandals£125 at Net-a-Porter I'll be giving my beach shoes an upgrade this summer and investing in these fun, neon flip-flops. They work for the sand, just as well as they do with my favourite seersucker shirt and shorts co-ord, plus they're hotly tipped as the shoe of the summer, so be quick. They're not cheap, I admit, but the rubber is very sturdy, so they should see you through a few seasons. A surprisingly wearable choker £135 at Missoma The red-coloured thread strung through these clear beads really elevates this choker necklace, and the shorter length makes it perfect for wearing with T-shirts and higher necklines. Some seasonal jewellery £59 at Ottoman Hands My summer jewellery is the complete opposite of the accessories I usually wear. When the sun is shining, I want coloured stones, turquoise necklaces and jewelled bracelets. If there is a shell involved somewhere, all the better. I adore these earrings. A city-friendly basket bag £49.50 at M&S Sometimes a raffia woven beach bag doesn't quite work for me. It can feel a bit much at the lido, and it can be a bit too beachy if I'm lucky enough to be on a city break, especially when you're surrounded by high-rises. That's why I love this style from M&S. The leather-look braided handles stop it from being too laid-back and toughen it up a bit. The showcase hairstyle Wear your hair up. Sounds simple. But there's no better way to showcase your summer jewellery than to frame it with an up-do. Go for a low, sleek pony or a ballerina bun. A grownup bag charm £20 at Free People Update your bag in seconds by adding a charm. From Labubus to Jellycats, the options are endless (special shout out to Anya Hindmarch's Pez charm), but if you don't want to break the bank, this beaded fish from Free People is cute and fun. A wide-brimmed cap £45 at Sézane Once the sun starts shining, I'm never far away from a hat, but I gravitate towards block colours and neutrals. For a change, I'm going to mix things up with this softer-looking pale-blue gingham style and wear it with a floaty white dress and brown sandals. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Non-black sunglasses £49 at Le Specs If, like me, you're hovering between your usual oversized rectangular sunglasses (a style I've been wearing for about three years) and the current trend for a smaller Y2K Matrix version, then these are the shades for you. Subtly cherry red, not too big, and not too small – they're just right. Climbing sandals £35.99 at Zara Technical footwear has been having a moment for a while now; my Tevas are certainly still going strong. But I'm on the lookout for something on the more delicate side, and these sporty rope sandals will look just as good with jean shorts as they will with a floaty black dress. The out-of-office hold Carry your bag in your hand, not on your shoulder. Sounds weird, but it makes it feel less worky. Even if your bag has a long shoulder strap, loop it around in your hand and hold it like a shopping bag – instant update. The multi-use holiday belt £51 at Sessùn£51 at Place Des Tendances A woven belt is one of those accessories that is invaluable when you're packing for a four-day holiday and trying to squeeze everything into an overhead locker-sized suitcase. It's the perfect addition to a midi dress when you're dressing up for the evening, and will equally give your cotton shorts a little something extra when you're tucking in your linen shirt. I adore French brand Sessùn, and this belt would be a shrewd investment. The bag within a bag When you are using a roomy tote or beach bag, pop essentials such as bank cards and house keys into a makeup pouch. That way, they won't end up at the bottom of your bag, and you'll avoid having a panic attack thinking you have lost them. Beach-to-night rope sandals £75 at Oliver Bonas Fisher sandals are a summer classic and perfect for wearing with linen trousers, as well as holiday dresses. I love that this Oliver Bonas pair is made from woven raffia and leather rather than all leather; it makes them less clumpy and a more versatile footwear option for the evenings. A proper summer bag £169 at Massimo Dutti Chocolate brown is as popular as it was last season, and if you're looking for a hard-working bag, I'd go for a supersoft suede style as it's a great complement to white and oaty linens. This Massimo Dutti style will serve you throughout summer and into autumn. Sunglasses that aren't Ray-Bans £160 at Akila Sunglasses are the accessory you will use most day to day, so it makes sense to choose a pair that will go with everything. Ray-Bans suit everyone, and aviators tend to flatter most face shapes, but it's nice to go for something different – and these thick rectangular frames will work just as well. The olive shade is a nice alternative to classic blacks and browns too. Staple socks $25 (about £19) at Socksss Gen Z came for millennial trainer socks and they, err, won. Unless you want to look dated, you need to wear socks that are visible. Both in length – go for a pair that hits above the ankle bone, not under – and in colour, the more attention-grabbing the better. Socksss has several options, but I like its original Paradise and Applebottom styles that come in various punchy shades and, as a bonus, are medical-grade compression, so your legs feel less heavy on hot days. The no-wallet silhouette Do you really need your entire wallet if you have a bank card on your phone? Overstuffed pockets add unnecessary bulk. Try streamlining. A not-so-obvious holiday shirt £150 at NN 07£150 at Liberty Blame Baz Luhrmann, but a tropical printed shirt on holiday means you risk looking like a Montague extra who has wandered off-set. The Copenhagen-based brand NN 07 has some more subtle options, such as the above and this, that still evoke a holiday mood. The alt cap £65 at Satisfy There are only so many local coffee shop or 'ironic' caps we can take. So where to next? May I suggest a running cap. It still protects your scalp from the sun, but it's lighter than a lot of others and offers a better fit. Try this one with a short brim from Satisfy, a cult Paris-based running brand. The perfect semi-short shorts £69 at End£70 at Asos I think I've landed on the perfect pair of shorts for a man. Butter yellow seems to be the colour of this summer, but if you're worried it won't suit you, wearing it on your bottom half is a good compromise. The 9in inside leg means these are just about long enough so your legs aren't going to touch the seats on public transport, but also sturdy enough (they're cotton twill) for cycling. Plus, a built-in belt is the cleverest thing. The beach-to-bar T-shirt £49 at Cos I love anything colourful in summer, but this pale apricot T-shirt, which comes in various other modern colours, is just so fancy! It's the dropped shoulders and almost elbow-length sleeves that elevate it from being something ordinary. You could wear it on a beach. You could wear it in a bar on the beach. Plus, it's lightweight jersey (most jerseys seem to be mid-weight, which can be too much in the summer), meaning it has more give. And it's not just us who love it, because it's sold out in some sizes (extra small, small and medium were still available at the time of writing). A grownup beach bag £30 at M&S Sometimes adulting means carting your stuff around in a structured tote rather than that flimsy one you bagged from an arthouse cinema circa 2012. This one from M&S has handles that are long enough to comfortably fit over your shoulders, meaning you can lug a towel, book and beers to and from the beach without complaining. The DIY pedicure Before you wear sandals, show your feet some care. Soak them in warm water and epsom salts, then use a pumice stone to scrub off dead skin. A shirt that gets better with wear £75 at Gant Breathable and lightweight, what's not to like about a linen shirt? The summer essential looks even better with age, so it's worth scouting out secondhand stores. If you are buying new, choose something with a lived-in feel. Gant dyes its take on the classic after it's been constructed, giving it more of a vintage feel. The box pleat at the back adds structure, while the lack of an obvious logo is nice in an obvious-logo world. Trend updated trousers £93.75 at Wax One of the key takeaways from the recent men's fashion month is that trousers are getting baggier, again. You don't have to go full pavement scraper, but try easing yourself into the trend with a looser silhouette. This pair with a barrel-shaped leg and single-pleated front are a good start. Wear them now with a white T-shirt and Birkenstocks, then in winter with a cosy jumper and thick-soled Derby shoes. An alternative to a hoodie £130 at Rapha On paper, a fleece for summer sounds a bit mad. But hello, this is the UK and the evenings are cold. This half-zip fleece is thin enough to be tied around your waist without feeling annoying, or bunged in a backpack until you need it. If you're going to a festival, take it instead of a hoodie. You can thank me when you're wandering around at 5am trying to remember where your tent is. The sundowner hack Attach a carabiner to a tote bag so you don't have to dig around to find keys at the end of a long day at the beach. Layer for the heat Light layering that stops the sun from directly hitting your skin can sometimes make you feel less sweaty. Natural fabrics are key. Try a linen shirt worn unbuttoned over a simple cotton tank top. A swim robe that does the job From £65 at FrugiFrom £65 at Next Unless you're on holiday in the Med, your child will be cold when they get out of the water, so there's no point messing about in something thin. This is called the Atlantic robe with good reason. It has a fleece lining, a hood, and is long, so they can get dressed and stay inside it until you go home. A not-too-smart smart shirt £14 at M&S Sometimes I find it a bit creepy seeing kids in adult clothing, but I recently got my son to try this on – Cuban collar and all – and I'm now biting my tongue. The whole knitted shirt thing is very Bode, but it's also very beach, without being your typical T-shirt-with-a-dolphin on. It doubles up nicely as a jacket too, so they can wear a T-shirt underneath. The sandy toes minimised If you're going to the beach, especially a sandy one, I'd advise bringing an extra hand towel – purely for kids to stand on when trying to get their shoes on without getting sandy toes. The gender-neutral swimsuit £25 at John Lewis£25 at Boden It's still hard to find girls' clothes that aren't bright pink or boring and beige, but Mini Boden has a handle on gender-neutral colours. This zip-up, long-sleeved swimsuit is great because the zip is at the front, not the back, it covers the bits that tend to get burned, and has that built-in UPF50+ fabric, which isn't 100% foolproof but will buy you some time. And it looks very cute without being too gender-coded. Goggles that fit £20 at Speedo£16.99 at Amazon I bought these for my eldest at a swimming pool. He took some persuading – how much do children actually need goggles? – but it has transformed his swimming experience in chlorine and the sea. They're great because the seal doesn't hurt when they're on, and the size is really easy to adjust, so he can probably wear them for a few more years. Not too expensive either. They replaced a pair I bought at a seaside shop, which broke the same day, so you live and learn. The perfect rocky beach shoe £55 at KeenFrom £30.61 at Amazon Obviously my children have grown up in Crocs, but I'm not convinced they're ideal for the rocky crags of north Devon, which is why I bought them Keen sandals. They've got terrific grip, a special bumper that means no toes are stubbed, and a bungee cinch, which even my 18-month-old can virtually do up himself. A reversible jacket £38 at Little Green Radicals As anyone who has given their child an ice-cream knows, all childrenswear should be reversible, and this jacket has two pretty sides instead of only one. Best of all, it has poppers, not buttons. Also, £38 isn't too bad for organic cotton clothing that is also Fairtrade. The meltdown-averting wetsuit hack My son wears a wetsuit on the beach all year round. Invariably, he gets cold after being half-submerged for six hours, and it also keeps the sun off his back. The proper ones tend to have the zip at the back though, so tie a piece of ribbon to it so they can take it off themselves without a tantrum. Cute seasonal trousers From £16 at Next These barrel trousers are incredibly cute and come in four different ginghams, but more than that – they work on boys and girls. That shouldn't seem radical, but it is. The purple and pink print is the nicest. Toddler-friendly cycling shorts £24 at Childrensalon I've found cycling shorts ideal for when kids are crawling or toddling, as they don't flap about like baggy clothes that can catch on corners or handles. And they barely notice they're wearing them. I pop these on my youngest under a large T-shirt, and find it much easier changing him when poppers aren't involved. A hat they'll actually wear From £9 at John Lewis Obviously getting a hat for a child is working on the assumption that your child will actually wear a hat. But I've found a bucket hat tends to work quite well. Better at least than caps, which need to be more fitted. This one is twill, so there's a bit of warmth in it, and it has a clever elastic toggle, which means you can tighten it as they grow (or at least grow their hair). I've got the three- to five-year-old version, and my son has just turned six, so there you go. The accident-proof nappy short £24 at Polarn O Pyret If money were no object, I'd buy everything for my kids from Polarn O Pyret (its hats are the best and longest lasting out there). But as it very much is, it's only worth getting things they'll wear on repeat. These nappy shorts are generously sized, almost look like seersucker, and are quite baggy in the right places so they can 'contain' a lot while also making sure nothing, um, slips out. I also like the elastic waist instead of a drawstring. I don't mind having my youngest in just his nappy, but this is undoubtedly preferable. The no-knee-scrape shorts £25 at Arket If your son is anything like my eldest, he's terrified of scraping his knees. This makes shorts season tricky, as it's really hard to find anything that goes to knee-length or below. I actually go one size up and use the drawstring waist to make sure they fit. On that: so many kids' clothes have buttons, which simply don't work with a last-minute loo run. I also think this bottle green is terribly grownup. A summer-proof fleece for life £48 at Patagonia£80 at Early Rider You need only one fleece for the kids on holiday, and if you have a raincoat you can layer it up. Patagonia is the best for outerwear, and this fleece is so incredibly light you can roll it up too. I love the hand-warmer pockets and that it dries really quickly. It isn't cheap, but it has a hand-it-down ID label sewn in so you can pass it along.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
The Louvre makeover that will push up price of seeing Mona Lisa
A baking summer's afternoon at the Louvre. Milling around the Mona Lisa are maybe 150 people, all with their phones held high above their heads so they can snap that enigmatic smile. Meanwhile, in the vast galleries surrounding Leonardo's masterpiece, an eternal throng of visitors from every corner of the globe trudges wearily on — most, this far into the gallery, seemingly oblivious to the glorious art around them. Paris's great museum has about nine miles of galleries, spread over 403 rooms. You enter it from beneath IM Pei's celebrated glass pyramid, which on a day like this behaves like a giant magnifying glass for the blazing sun. Many visitors probably won't venture more than half a mile into the heart of the museum. But in this huge, former royal palace there is one tranquil room. Far from the madding crowd, Laurence des Cars, 59, the first female director of the Louvre in 228 years, sits in her book-lined office, the picture of the formidable, Sorbonne-educated Parisian intellectual she is. If she is physically distanced from the heaving mass of humanity trudging round her domain, however, her brain is constantly occupied with it. 'One of my first decisions when I became the director in 2021 was to limit our daily admissions to 30,000,' she says. 'You know that, just before Covid, the Louvre was getting ten million visitors a year? When I got here the staff said, 'Please let's not go back to that because some days we were up to 45,000 visitors.' And that figure is too much. Even now we are saturated. The building is suffocating. It's not good for staff, visitors or the art.' Last month the Louvre's staff emphasised their grievances by going on a spontaneous strike (a 'mass expression of exasperation', their union official said), leaving thousands of tourists outside with no idea why they weren't being let in. 'It wasn't a strike,' des Cars says firmly. 'It was a meeting with the unions because of the conditions and especially the heat. I put in place immediate measures to make things better and we reopened that afternoon.' All the world's top museums — from the Vatican in Rome to the British Museum in London — are facing this same problem: huge congestion, especially around the handful of masterpieces that every tourist has heard of. But the overcrowding is felt most acutely by the Louvre, which still receives more visitors (8.7 million last year) than any other museum, yet has some of the worst facilities. We know this because six months ago a memo outlining its problems was leaked to a Paris newspaper. It caused a stir not just because it was addressed to Rachida Dati, France's culture minister, but because it was written by des Cars. She was jaw-droppingly frank. 'Visiting the Louvre is a physical ordeal,' she wrote. 'Visitors have no space to take a break. The food options and restroom facilities are insufficient in volume, falling below international standards. The signage needs to be completely redesigned.' Pei's pyramid, she went on, creates a 'very inhospitable' atmosphere on hot days. Other parts of the old building are 'no longer watertight'. Nobody has revealed who leaked the memo, but it's hard to imagine des Cars being upset by the revelation because within days came a dramatic intervention from on high. President Macron announced a redevelopment project that he called the 'nouvelle renaissance' of the Louvre. It's masterminded by des Cars and every bit as radical a reshaping as François Mitterrand's 'grand projét' of the 1980s, which led to Pei's pyramid. By chance it will run simultaneously with something similar in London: the £1 billion masterplan to renovate the British Museum, a coincidence that hasn't escaped des Cars' notice. 'I talk a lot with Nick Cullinan [the BM's director],' she says. 'He's wonderful, a great professional and he's dealing with exactly the same issues.' The most controversial feature of des Cars' plan is her proposed solution to the problem of that huge rugby scrum around the Mona Lisa. She wants to remove the painting to one of several new underground galleries to be excavated under the Cour Carrée courtyard, where it will get its own entrance requiring punters to buy an additional ticket (the price is yet to be decided). • The secret life of the Louvre: inside the world's biggest museum She also envisages a second entrance to the Louvre on the far side from where the pyramid is. 'The idea of having just one entrance to this enormous museum was a nice idea in the 1980s when the Louvre had just four million visitors a year,' she says. 'But that was before the Berlin Wall fell, before the Chinese started travelling, before international tourism reached the levels we have today. We are going back to what was always the case — several entrances for the Louvre.' At the same time the museum will be given a technical makeover. That will take ten years, des Cars estimates, whereas she suggests that the Mona Lisa gallery and the new entrance will be ready by 2031 or 2032. 'We are running a competition to find an architect and will appoint one early next year,' she says. 'And the Louvre won't close at all. That's the strength of having a very large building. You can rebuild half of it and still function in the other half.' One benefit of all this, des Cars says, is that it will help people to get to different galleries more quickly, introducing more lifts and better signage. 'On the second floor we have the most extraordinary collection of French paintings anywhere in the world and virtually nobody looks at them,' she says. 'You start to think, what's wrong with Poussin? The answer is nothing. The real problem is that to get from the pyramid to Poussin takes 20 to 25 minutes, and that's if you walk quickly and don't get lost. If we can sort out these problems people will discover many new joys.' It comes at a price, though. The ten-year project is expected to cost about £700 million. Unlike the British Museum's masterplan, however, at least half the required funding is already guaranteed. 'The technical renovation will be funded by the Ministry of Culture,' des Cars says. 'As for the new galleries and entrance, our trademark licence deal with the Louvre Abu Dhabi [which des Cars spent six years helping to set up] will give us at least £175 million. The rest we will raise from corporate and private supporters.' Even here, des Cars has an advantage over her British counterparts. 'When you say the word Louvre people all over the world pay attention,' she says. The gallery has one other huge income stream not available to UK museums. It charges for admission and the ticket prices are about to go up — £19 for EU citizens and a hefty £26 for non-EU visitors, including the poor old Brits. Sounds as if we need to rejoin the EU, I say. 'Please do!' des Cars says, beaming. But what does she think of the UK's generous policy of keeping its national museums free to all, even foreigners? 'I am absolutely not allowed to make any judgment on that,' she says with a laugh, and then makes one anyway. 'I mean, it's very admirable but is it sustainable in today's world? That's a political decision. I leave you to have your debate.' • Best time to visit the Louvre: top tips for your trip The daughter and granddaughter of distinguished French writers, des Cars was a respected art historian, writing a classic study of the pre-Raphaelites before she started running big Parisian museums (she was head of the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie before the Louvre). Surely it must break her heart to see thousands of people using great art merely as background for their selfies, disrupting other visitors' enjoyment in the process? Has she considered banning the use of phones, as other art galleries have done? 'I know they are trying but I simply don't know how you do it,' she says. 'We considered it when I was at the Orangerie and the security team said, 'We can't force people not to use phones.' Also I think it's dangerous to go against the times we live in, but you can remind people that they are in a cultural space and need to respect each other, the staff and the artworks.' • Mona Lisa to get her own room in the Louvre And perhaps be a bit more curious about venturing into galleries that don't contain the most famous paintings on the planet? 'We are already making changes to attract people to less-visited parts of the museum,' des Cars says. 'For instance, we could have put our new Louvre Couture [the museum's first venture into fashion] in our exhibitions space, but instead we placed it within the department of decorative arts and now those galleries get a hugely increased number of visitors, especially young people.' As the Louvre's first female director, can she do anything to mitigate the fact that the vast majority of artworks here were created by men? 'You cannot change history but there are other ways of addressing that question. In the spring of 2027 I'm programming an exhibition on the theme of amazons, ancient and modern — from Greek women warriors to powerful women today. It will be a fascinating journey.' And how is this very powerful woman enjoying her own fascinating journey? 'When I was appointed I felt ready to run the Louvre, which sounds immodest,' des Cars replies. 'Maybe I will be a disaster and someone will have to shout, 'Stop!' I don't know.' I would be amazed if anyone did that — or at least not until the mid-2030s, when she has finished remaking the Louvre for the 21st century. Additional research by Ziba Manteghi
