Rock legend Rod Stewart and his model wife Penny Lancaster enjoyed a glamorous festive family gathering at one of London's most iconic hotels this week.
A Glamorous Family Affair
On Monday evening, the couple were spotted leaving The Ritz after hosting a lavish dinner for their extended family. Penny Lancaster, 54, looked sensational in a little sparkly black dress, which she paired with a brown furry jacket and elegant black heels. She was helped down the restaurant's steps by her younger son, Aiden, 14.
Her husband, music icon Rod Stewart, 80, was equally dapper, dressed to impress in a black bejewelled jacket over a cream waistcoat and white shirt. The pair were joined by a host of family members, including Rod's son Liam and his wife Nicole, his daughter Ruby and her husband Jake, as well as Penny and Rod's sons, Alistair (Ali), 20, and Aiden.
Festive Celebrations and Family Moments
The mood was clearly festive and full of love. Rod's daughter Ruby and her husband Jake were seen sharing a passionate kiss as they departed the venue. Meanwhile, the couple's eldest son, Ali, opted for a stylish pinstripe suit and shared a sweet moment with his famous father outside.
This large family gathering highlights Rod Stewart's status as a father to eight children. Prior to welcoming Ali and Aiden with Penny, he was already a father to six children from previous relationships. His first child, Sarah, 62, was put up for adoption but he later formed a relationship with her. He had daughter Kimberly, 46, and son Sean, 45, with ex-wife Alana Stewart, and daughter Ruby, 38, with ex-girlfriend Kelly Emberg. During his marriage to ex-wife Rachel Hunter, he had two more children: Renee, 33, and Liam, 31.
Recounting an Emotional Love Story
The festive family outing comes shortly after Penny Lancaster broke down in tears while recounting her and Rod's emotional love story in a new BBC festive special, Anita Rani's My Life At Christmas.
The couple first met in 1999 when Penny was a student at Barking College and Rod was performing. Interestingly, it wasn't until nine months after exchanging numbers that Rod finally reached out. His band leader, Carmine Appice, had withheld Penny's number, believing Rod wasn't ready for a new relationship so soon after his divorce from Rachel Hunter.
Rod explained the situation, joking, "I should have fired him but I couldn't!" Penny became emotional recalling the period, saying she thought she would never see Rod again after the initial meeting. The couple welcomed their first son, Alistair, in 2005, tied the knot in 2007, and had their second son, Aiden, in 2011.
Their enduring partnership and close-knit family were on full display during their celebratory evening at The Ritz, marking a joyful start to the holiday season for the Stewart-Lancaster clan.
