Katie Price is on a mission to rekindle her friendship with her first husband, Peter Andre, and has been pictured cosying up to his agent, Claire Powell, at the UK Hair & Beauty Awards in Manchester. The reunion comes after a 17-year rift between Price and Powell, who also managed Price for years.
Rebuilding Bridges After Years of Tension
Price, 48, had previously described Powell as a “suffocating” influence in her marriage during her documentary, Katie Price: Nothing To Hide. In July last year, she appeared to blame Powell amid claims she was “left out” of her daughter Princess's 18th birthday party celebrations.
During an episode of her podcast, The Katie Price Show, she said, “Certain people don’t think it’s good for Princess to be seen with me. Certain people that used to look after me.”
A Plan to Rebuild Friendship with Pete
A source told new that the reunion is part of Price's plan to rebuild her relationship with Pete, 53, who she has previously described as “the love of my life”. The source said, “When Katie and Claire hugged at the event, the crowd all cheered. And Katie loved that – being the centre of attention for all the right reasons. Now she really wants a proper friendship with Pete. They called the truce and have spoken, but Kate wants more than that. She wants him back in her life properly – and she wants to be in his.”
Price, whose fourth husband Lee Andrews is still believed to be serving time in a Dubai prison, buried the hatchet with Pete earlier this year after nearly two decades of warring. The former couple, who divorced in 2009, released a joint statement in February pledging to “move forward into a new chapter with positivity and respect” for the sake of their children.
Positive Progress and Hopes for a Blended Family
In April, Pete – who has been married to second wife Dr Emily MacDonagh, 37, since 2015 – said, “It’s actually great. And, you know, unbeknownst to a lot of people, over the last 15, 16 years, it has been OK before this. The kids are grown up and it’s nice that everyone moves forward. It’s just all positive and it’s lovely. That’s how life should be.”
According to the source, Price wants more than “just occasionally chatting” over FaceTime. The source said, “Katie really wants to be a blended family, with joint family holidays and to celebrate birthdays and Christmas together.”
Speaking at the hair and beauty event where her son, Junior, performed his new single, Goosebumps, Price said, “This is like I’ve gone back 20 years. It’s so amazing that I am here with Claire – she used to manage me and this feels like it’s come around full circle. Me and Claire have spoke for a year now and we’ve put everything behind us. Claire is an amazing manager and she’s doing the best to guide my kids and I will always be grateful for that.”
Claire, whose firm The Can Group now manages both Princess and Junior, said, “They can move forward now which is great for the sake of Junior and Princess. I think Peter just wants to have a happy life and everyone around him to be happy. He’s in a very happy marriage with Emily, with a busy life enjoying what he does.”
The source added, “She’s thinking about the rest of her life now. Lee is a never-ending drama, so she’s looking for the next thing to distract herself – and that is making amends with her former enemies. Kate reckons showing Pete she’s a changed woman – that she’s ending all the arguments and fallouts – will help him see her differently. She also hopes it’ll convince him to have her in his life and return to a friendship.”
