Coleen Rooney has revealed details about a monumental moment in McDonald's with her husband Wayne. The famous pair have remained in the public eye throughout their entire adult lives, ever since they announced their romance as teenagers. Now, the Rooneys are providing an insight into their private world.
First date at cinema and McDonald's
Coleen featured on Paul Brunson's "We Need To Talk" podcast, where she discussed her childhood, formative years and the moment she encountered Wayne. In recent times, Coleen has established herself as a celebrity following the notorious Wagatha Christie trial and her 2024 stint on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Coleen and Wayne first crossed paths when they were 12 years old, though she didn't "give him a date" until they reached 16. Encountering Wayne transformed Coleen's life path, as the duo progressed from being regular pupils from Croxteth to worldwide stardom within years.
Growing up in Croxteth
Discussing her initial encounter with her future spouse, she revealed: "Our families knew each other, we grew up together. My dad ran the local boxing gym with Wayne's uncle. We first started to get to know each other around 12."
She continued: "He was always after me and wanted to date. He always says he knew I was the one. But I was busy, I didn't go out and hang around on the street as much, because I'd go to dance and go to drama and do my homework."
"He attended the all boys Catholic school while I went to the all girls, they were literally round the corner from each other. I found him amusing, charming, but he was a typical lad."
Wayne's humour won her over
Coleen said Wayne's "humour" won her over, as she told host Paul Brunson: "I found him funny, I think his humour won me over. His cheekiness, being really confident as well. He just asked me out, and he was a character."
Looking back on their first date, Coleen revealed how a trip to the cinema and McDonald's was where it all began. She said: "We went to the cinema. I was a bit nervous because my family knew him, and I knew I probably couldn't hide the fact I was going on a date because I'd have to walk down and meet him on my road."
"There wasn't anything wrong with that, I was 16 I could go on a date. But out of respect and so I could own it, I asked my dad if I could go on the date."
She joked as she said: "My dad said 'yeah as long as he sits on the back row and you sit on the front row'."
Coleen added: "We actually went with another couple who we were friends with. We went to McDonald's on the way back and that was it. It's funny now, because 16-year-old's seem to be doing a lot more mature things than going to the cinema and going to McDonald's.
From Croxteth to Cheshire mansion
"I think because he was so open and out there, he would just say it as it is. I knew a lot about him before I actually went on the date. But it probably was that intimate space where I thought, do you know what, I actually quite like this and I'm going to have another date."
The childhood sweethearts subsequently became household names in British media, with their romance playing out in the public eye. Wayne popped the question in 2003, before they tied the knot in 2008 in Italy.
The family-of-six now reside in a breathtaking mansion near Mobberly in Cheshire. Their home is officially called High Lake Manor and sprawls across 50 acres of countryside. It's a far cry from the humble Croxteth properties where Coleen and Wayne were raised.
The Real Rooneys on Disney Plus
The family have now chosen to welcome viewers into their lives through the new Disney Plus programme, The Real Rooneys. The 10-episode series captures a crucial year for the Liverpool-born pair as they juggle their professional commitments with raising their four sons Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass.
The Real Rooneys provides an intimate look at the family as Wayne transitions from football management. As he trades the sidelines for school drop-offs, Coleen seizes the most significant opportunities of her career, including creating her own collection with fashion giant, Primark.
