TV presenter Laura Hamilton has hit back at critics who claim her jet-set lifestyle negatively impacts her two children, Rocco, 12, and Tahlia, 11. The A Place In The Sun star insists that travel has always been part of their lives and that she prioritizes her children above all else.
Traveling Since Infancy
Hamilton, who has presented the Channel 4 show since 2012, revealed that both children have traveled with her since they were just three weeks old. “In the first 11 months of Tahlia’s life, she’d been on 23 flights,” she told the Mirror. “Some people say, ‘How do you do that?’ But it’s actually far easier to travel with a baby. I learned very quickly not to take everything with us, and we only ever have hand luggage. You get in and out of the airport quicker.”
Balancing Work and Family
Hamilton co-parents Rocco and Tahlia with her ex-husband, from whom she separated in January 2022. The children split their time equally between both parents. “When it’s my week, they’re my priority and I manage work around them,” she explained. “They travelled with me full-time until they were school age, so that’s their reality.”
Despite her busy schedule, Hamilton ensures that family trips are not always about luxury. “We have done five-star hotels, but equally, I grew up camping and caravanning – they’re some of the best holidays I ever had,” she said.
Addressing Criticism
Hamilton openly addresses the criticism she faces on social media. “I’ve had people saying, ‘It’s so unstable for your children. They don’t know if they’re coming or going.’ But that’s utter rubbish,” she stated. “Home is wherever family is. If we’re talking about bricks and mortar, the UK is home and it’s where they go to school. But I want them to see as many different places in the world as possible.”
She also emphasized that her social media posts do not reflect the full extent of her involvement in her children’s lives. “People on social media can make assumptions I’m not with them if I don’t post about them all the time. Well, trust me, I’m a very hands-on mum. Just because I don’t post about it all the time doesn’t mean I’m not.”
Children’s Interests and Independence
Hamilton’s children have inherited her love for travel, but Rocco dreams of becoming a professional footballer. “Doesn’t every little boy want to be a footballer?” she laughed. “It’s managing those expectations. He’ll say, ‘Mummy, don’t doubt me,’ and I’m like, ‘I wouldn’t dare.’ But for me, it’s always good to have a back-up option.”
She encourages independence in her children. “I’ve always wanted them to be independent. Sometimes if you don’t teach them to do it themselves, you end up with a lazy kid that thinks you wait on them hand and foot,” she said. “Of course, I don’t expect them to come home from school and do the washing and cook dinner, but they’ve definitely got to the point where they wake up and make their own breakfast. Or Rocco will say, ‘I’m hungry. I’m going to make myself some lunch.’ I’m not going to be there forever.”
Social Media Concerns
Like many parents, Hamilton worries about the impact of social media on her children. “I don’t want them on certain apps, like Snapchat,” she said. “I just don’t like them. I’ll ask Tahlia what she’s looking at and she’s like, ‘I just look at horses and make-up.’ I check, and it’s true. And Rocco says, ‘It’s just football. Occasionally I see the odd boob, but you know…’”
Property Passion and Future Plans
Hamilton’s property career spans over two decades, and she is currently renovating a home in Mallorca. “I’ve always loved it there. It was the first place I took Tahlia to when she was three weeks old,” she said. However, her heart remains in the UK. “Where I am now in Surrey is my forever home,” she insisted. “You can always say nothing’s forever, whether it’s a relationship, property or whatever. But I don’t want to move from here. It’s convenient for school, the airport, and I love the space and privacy.”
Aging and Lifestyle
At 44, Hamilton remains youthful and unconcerned about aging. “I don’t worry about it,” she said. “You can’t do anything about it. It’s a privilege to be getting older. But I do notice, the older I get, the years seem to go faster and faster.” She avoids excessive drinking to stay productive. “Feeling hungover or rubbish the day after doesn’t work for me because I need to be productive every day,” she explained. “The kids are quite observant now too. If you’re having a glass of wine they’ll go, ‘Oh, you’re not having too many are you, Mummy?’ I don’t really drink anyway, but they’re both very fit and healthy with sports scholarships at school.”
Contentment and Recent Adventures
Overall, Hamilton is content with her life. “I used to worry so much about what other people think. The older I’ve got, I block out the noise and the people saying, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t be travelling so much. There’s no stability. Where’s home?’ I used to listen to that, but I don’t any more. As long as they’re happy, I’m happy,” she said.
Recently, she took her children on a multi-destination trip to Nashville, Miami, and the Bahamas after scrapping a planned trip to Sri Lanka due to unrest. “It’s always been on my bucket list to go to Nashville,” she said. “Tahlia loves horses and music, I love music, and Rocco loves the States. We went from Nashville to Chattanooga for a rodeo and it was incredible.” In the Bahamas, they swam with nurse sharks and wild pigs. “The kids adore wildlife,” she added. “Rocco loves watching Attenborough. Maybe that’s the secret to a long life, you know – travel and adventure.”
Hamilton also enjoyed a skiing trip to France with her former Dancing On Ice partner Colin Ratushniak and plans to join him in Canada next February. “I’m going skiing with Colin in Canada next February. I’ve never been and he’s been saying for ages, ‘Please, come.’ He’s a commercial pilot now for Air Canada, so he may well be flying me there!” she said.
