08.07.2026 19:50
During the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government, the gathering of leaders' spouses at Çankaya Mansion in Ankara was a colorful affair. Hosted by Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the event saw the participation of numerous First Ladies shaping global diplomacy. Notably, Heiko von der Leyen, spouse of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Bo Tengberg, spouse of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, attended as 'First Gentlemen,' drawing all the attention.
Spouses of leaders in Ankara for the 36th NATO Summit gathered at Çankaya Mansion hosted by Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. At the meeting where global diplomacy peaked, many First Ladies from around the world were hosted, while two names among the guests became the most striking detail of the organization.
THE WORLD'S EYES WERE ON ÇANKAYA MANSION The program hosted by Emine Erdoğan saw high international participation. At the reception at Çankaya Mansion; South Korean President's wife Kim Hea Kyung, Polish President Karol Nawrocki's wife Marta Nawrocki, Finnish President Alexander Stubb's wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte Macron, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's wife Diana Nausediene, Romanian President Nicu?or Dan's wife Mirabela Gradinaru, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife Olena Zelenska were present.
Additionally, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's wife Veerle Hegge, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' wife Mareva Grabowski, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa's wife Urska Bacovnik Jansa, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's wife Linda Rama, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic's wife Milena Tosic Spajic, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's wife Diana Fox Carney were among the other names in the summit delegation.
TWO MALE GUESTS STEALING THE SHOW AT THE SUMMIT: "FIRST GENTLEMEN" IN ANKARA At the historic meeting at Çankaya Mansion, a protocol-breaking moment occurred by stepping outside the traditional "First Lady" hosting format. In the summit program, where female spouses of leaders usually participate, two male guests drew all the attention this time.
Heiko von der Leyen, husband of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Bo Tengberg, husband of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, took part in the reception as "First Gentlemen" (Spouse of Leader).
Heiko von der Leyen and Bo Tengberg, who participated in the program alongside other spouses of leaders and engaged in friendly conversations, succeeded in becoming the most talked-about and well-liked figures of this historic summit in Ankara.
Heiko von der Leyen Bo Tengberg