Penny Lancaster Opens Up About Nearly Leaving Rod Stewart Over One Big Decision
Penny Lancaster has revealed she almost walked away from her marriage to Sir Rod Stewart over a crucial choice: having children together.
Rod Stewart was a father to six children when he met Penny in 1999. They ultimately married in 2007 and had two sons, Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
Speaking exclusively to Saga, Penny reflected on the early tension in their relationship. “And that would have been very hard. But we just went with the flow,” she said, referring to her husband’s initial reluctance to expand his family.
Over time, Rod changed his mind, embracing fatherhood once again. Penny laughed about their conversations around adoption.
“Now Rod always says, ‘I wish I’d said yes [to babies] earlier, because then we could have had more children.’ Even five years ago, we were talking about adopting, but it ended up not happening.
We thought there might be too much of an age gap. Actually, I have three because there’s another big baby who needs my attention differently. I think all women would say that about their husbands.”
Despite their 26-year age gap, Rod and Penny’s bond remains rock-solid. Speaking to HELLO!, the “Forever Young” singer revealed the secret to their enduring love: “We love life and make date nights for one another, among touring and family time.
We listen to each other and try to resolve all our disagreements, the dirty laundry, as Penny says, right away, and before we go to bed.”
For Penny, attraction is key. “You need a healthy attraction. Rod and I can have dinner in a crowded room or just the two of us – we always have eyes for each other. There’s this look, this connection, this message without words.”
The couple renewed their promises in 2017 at their Essex estate, turning the form into a charitable event, with proceeds bestowed to Grenfell fire victims.
Penny is also a proud mammy to Rod’s six children, Sarah, 61, Kimberly, 46, Sean, 45, Ruby, 38, Renee, 33, and Liam, 31.
“Being a stepmother to start with was very daunting and challenging, but it’s proved to be an honor and very rewarding,” she shared with HELLO!.
“When I first met my husband 15 years ago, his youngest was five and the oldest was 21. So I got to see the different stages that children go through and the challenges they face, but the rewards as well.
It’s been a learning curve, but a wonderful one. It’s so lovely that we’re all so close and they all turn to me for advice, to talk about dad, boyfriends, and career choices. It’s a big happy family now.”
Their story is a memorial that love isn’t without hurdles, but concession, understanding, and a gusto of charm can make it last.
