British tourists will have to pay more to visit the Louvre in order to help fund a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa and a “grand new entrance” to the world’s most visited museum, Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron is due to visit the Louvre on Tuesday after its director issued a warning about leaks, overcrowding and sub-standard catering in a confidential note that has raised alarm about the state of the world's most visited museum.

France will launch a six-year renovation of the Louvre in Paris, enlarging the world's most-visited museum to make room for the huge crowds who now cram inside the palace on the banks of the Seine, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.