Have Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster split up? How long couple have been married - and relationship timeline

Fans of 77 year old Rod Stewart have been left confused as to whether he has split up with his wife of 14 years, Penny Lancaster, after a newly uncovered interview with the rocker revealed that the two had called it quits.

In the interview, Stewart explained how his heartbreak fuelled his popular cover of the song Picture in a Frame by Tom Waits.

This is everything you need to know about the couple.

Who is Penny Lancaster?

Lancaster is best known as an English model and TV personality turned police officer. She was born on 15 March 1971.

As a youngster, Lancaster took up dance and at the age of 16 she refocused her efforts on aerobics and in her early 20s became a certified fitness trainer. At over six feet tall, it wasn’t long before Lancaster was spotted by a model scout.

In 2002, Lancaster became the face of Ultimo, a designer lingerie brand and remained as such for two years. In 2007, Lancaster took part in the fifth season of Strictly Come Dancing, and was partnered up with professional dancer Ian Waite.

She and Waite were ultimately eliminated in week six, following a dance off with actor Matt Di Angelo and his dance partner Flavia Cacace.

In 2014, Lancaster joined the talk show Loose Women. Lancaster’s other television appearances include Celebrity Catchphrase, Famous and Fighting Crime and Celebrity Masterchef.

Following her appearance on the Channel 4 show Famous and Fighting Crime, Lancaster went on to join the City of London Police as a volunteer special constable. In April 2021, Lancaster successfully completed her training to become a special police constable and is now fully qualified.

Speaking about the decision on an Instagram live chat, Lancaster said: “I did a show called Famous and Fighting Crime where I was involved with the police. It was terrifying, terrifying, but  never felt more comfortable in a position and I felt like this was where I was supposed to be.”

She explained that she “had to sit exams, English and maths type exams” and also attend an interview with two officers, as well as a fitness test.

She added: “Then I had to do this massive vetting form going through all personal details of myself, my family, people I know and all that kind of thing.”

According to the City of London Police website, special constables are “unpaid members of the community who are trained to support the City of London Police in providing police on a part-time basis” and that they have “the same powers as a ‘regular’ police officer and wear the same uniform”.

The site adds: “As a [special constable], you will deal with situations and people you would probably never encounter in your day-to-day life.

“Your duties can include foot and mobile uniformed patrols, responding to incidents, supporting vulnerable people, initial investigation of crimes and supporting ceremonial events.”

Lancaster is also an ambassador for Penny for London, which is a charity dedicated to helping young people escape poverty. She is also a vice–president of the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

When did they get married - and do they have children?

Lancaster and Stewart met in 1999, when Lancaster was a photography student. Stewart had only just recently split from his ex-wife, model Rachel Hunter, although their divorce was not yet finalised.

Stewart agreed to letting Lancaster take photos of him whilst on tour, something which eventually sparked a seven year long courtship.

Lancaster gave birth to their first child in November of 2005, Alistair, and in 2011 they had their second child together, Aiden. The two married in June 2007, at La Cervara which is near Portofino in Italy.

While Lancaster and Stewart have two children together, Stewart has a total of eight kids.

He had his eldest child, Sarah, with his girlfriend at the time Susannah Boffey. Stewart was only 17 at the time of Sarah’s birth, and he and Boffey decided to place Sarah up for adoption, where she was raised by parents Gerald and Evelyn Thubron. The two eventually reconnected later in life.

He had two children with his first wife, Alana Stewart - Kimberly, born in 1979, and Sean, born in 1980. He then had another child with Kelly Emberg, Ruby, who was born in 1987.

Stewart then had two more children with his second wife, Rachel Hunter - Renee, born in 1992, and Liam, born 1994.

Have Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster split up?

Reports of an unearthed interview from Australian magazine Life with Stewart has left fans of the singer confused as to whether he and Lancaster have split - rest assured, the couple are still together.

Stewart revealed in the interview that he and Lancaster had broken up for a short period of time before eventually getting back together.

In the interview, Stewart discussed their split and how it inspired his cover of the Tom Waits song Picture in a Frame, which featured on his 2013 album Time.

Stewart dedicated that song on the album to that emotional period of his life.

Stewart said: “Penny and I broke up for two weeks and the song is about that time.

“I asked for a photo of herself in a frame so that I could see her when I went to bed and when I woke up.”

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