Nick Knowles and his wife Katie enjoyed an elegant day out at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday, marking Katie's first public appearance since she bravely revealed she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her father for years.
A Stylish Outing
The TV presenter, 63, looked handsome in a navy blazer layered over a navy polo shirt as he walked through the event with a green golf umbrella. Meanwhile, Katie, 35, looked ready for summer in a multi-coloured printed shirt dress from Zara, which featured watermelon and fish designs. She carried her belongings in a 2015 Hermes Birkin 40 in tan, featuring its iconic gold hardware.
Last month, Katie bravely revealed in a video that she was raped by her father for years. The entrepreneur, who married Nick last year, posted the clip on Instagram, where she discussed women's safety. She had never spoken publicly about the abuse before, only alluding to her difficult relationship with her father, who died when she was 18.
Katie's Brave Revelation
In the video, Katie said: "I have never spoken about this publicly, other than to friends, family and even then not everyone. I was raped by my dad for years, years and years." Sitting in her car, she continued: "There are times when it comes up but I have had a lot of therapy to get to be being as balanced as I can be about it now, and can be is the important bit... Things like this, if you know a woman, if you are a woman, if you're a mother to women, just anything, any affiliation with women, I think we should be worried looking at the news..."
Katie added: "It's not all men, but it is. It is men. It is men who commit the majority of domestic violence and sexual abuse... In my case it was a man. It's almost always in sexual abuse like that, someone that you know or a family member or a partner, or an ex-partner. Almost always."
She said her mood had dipped after reading an exposé by US CNN into a global online rape academy, where men share tactics for drugging and sexually assaulting women. She expressed fear about walking alone, saying: "I'm wearing this, a sports bra and shorts. I'm not asking for attention or rape... I'm really aware walking like that, is anyone looking at me?.. We shouldn't have to worry anymore."
Katie received an outpouring of support from followers, who thanked her for sharing her ordeal and raising awareness.
Family Background
Katie has two daughters from a previous relationship, and Nick has four children from three different relationships. He shares a daughter and son with ex-wife Gillian, another son with dancer Paula Beckett, and a third son, born in 2014, with ex-wife Jessica. Katie previously shared that her children befriending Nick's son led to the couple getting to know each other. Speaking about meeting Nick, she said: "I actually didn't like him very much... I'm very shy and quiet, while Nick is quite extroverted and a complete chatterbox." After a coffee date, they realised they had a lot in common. The pair married in a lavish six-figure wedding at Braxted Park, Essex last summer.
If you've been affected by issues raised in this report, support is available from Rape Crisis England & Wales 24/7 on 0808 500 2222 or chat online at 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.
