He has already played host to showgirls, hostesses, a teenage model and a prostitute. For once, however, there was no question over the suitability of Silvio Berlusconi’s latest round of female guests.

The official party of first ladies, including Michelle Obama and Sarah Brown, is expected to arrive today for a three-day visit to Rome and the earthquake-stricken city of L’Aquila.

The traditional gathering of leaders’ spouses has come under scrutiny this year after Veronica Lario, Mr Berlusconi’s wife, announced in May that she was seeking a divorce, partly because she could not stay with a man “who frequents minors”.

An online petition by four Italian academics also urged the spouses to boycott the summit on account of Mr Berlusconi’s “offensive” behaviour towards women.

Carla Bruni, the Italian-born wife of the French President, who has a history of clashes with Mr Berlusconi, announced yesterday that she would not be attending the official G8 events in Rome. She will, however, visit the summit venue of L’Aquila.

The official programme begins this morning when Mrs Brown shares an audience with the Pope and some of the other spouses at the Vatican.

They will be accompanied by two female government ministers, including Mara Carfagna, the former nude model and Miss Italia contestant, who Mr Berlusconi appointed as Equalities Minister.

Ms Carfagna, a 33-year-old law graduate from Sicily, will be representing the Government, according to official sources. She also represents a reminder of past controversies.

Two years ago Ms Lario demanded — and duly received — a public apology after Mr Berlusconi, 72, told Ms Carfagna that he would “marry her tomorrow, if I weren’t married already”.

After meeting the Pope, the wives will join the Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, and his wife, Isabella Rauti, for lunch before visiting the Musei Capitolini.

They will have afternoon tea with Clio Napolitano, the wife of the Italian President, who has replaced Ms Lario as the official hostess.

Ms Bruni, however, will travel to L’Aquila on Thursday afternoon, where she will visit a hospital and tour the tents housing those who lost their homes in the earthquake. She will return to France on Friday morning.

Relations between the model and the billionaire soured earlier this year after Mr Berlusconi reportedly boasted to her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy, that he “gave” him his wife. Mr Berlusconi denied the comment.

Ms Bruni was said to have remarked that she “was happy she had become French” after Mr Berlusconi’s gaffe about President Obama’s “suntan”.

Also absent will be Joachim Sauer, the husband of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the only man in the group of spouses.

Michelle Obama, who will be travelling with her daughters, Sasha and Malia, will meet the Pope at a private reception with her husband on Friday.

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