Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart have been married since 2007 (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
Penny Lancaster has revealed the surprising secret to her enduring marriage with Rod Stewart. The pair have been together for 26 years, marrying in 2007 and raising two sons, Alastair and Aiden Stewart.
In what may come as a surprise to some, the 55-year-old, who is the rock star’s third wife and his longest-lasting marriage, said that one of the main things keeping the spark alive is distance.
The former model credits spending weeks apart as crucial to maintaining the excitement in their relationship, telling Best Magazine: “We don’t [live in each other’s pockets] and time apart helps keep the spark alive.”
At the time of the interview, the couple had been separated for three weeks and were eagerly anticipating their reunion.
She shared with the magazine: “We’re desperately missing each other and have been counting down the days. Rod generally has a driver pick him up from the airport, but I’m meeting him because we can’t wait to see each other. Right from the start of our 26 years together, we’ve spent time apart.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 24: Penny Lancaster and Sir Rod Stewart attend Mark’s Club 50th Anniversary Party on November 24, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Birley Clubs)
Looking back at their first year as a couple, Penny recalled studying photography in Britain while Rod worked in America, which meant the majority of their early courtship involved connecting via phone and video calls.
“We’d spend hours and hours on the phone talking about everything, including photography and paintings,” she disclosed. Speaking candidly about her husband beyond the public eye, she continued: “Rod has a deeply, spiritual, sensitive and artistic side. That’s what he’s like underneath it all.
“That’s the real man. He can be quite demanding and he does require a lot of attention, but that’s fine because I’m good at giving it,” she revealed.
During the same conversation, the Loose Women panellist emphasised that effort was key to their marriage, with the couple making regular date nights a priority.
She also noted the pair continue to “flirt with each other and make each other laugh” to maintain their connection. “We don’t take each other for granted,” she stressed.
Penny is Rod’s third spouse, having previously been married to Rachel Hunter and Alana Stewart.
In addition to the two sons he has with Penny, Rod is father to six more children; Sarah, Kimberly, Ruby, Renee, Sean and Liam.
Speaking previously about being a dad, the Maggie May legend acknowledged he has needed to be “several different fathers” owing to the substantial age differences between his offspring.
His eldest daughter, Sarah Streeter, from a previous relationship, is 62, while his youngest child with Penny is 14.
According to MailOnline, he stated: “You really have to treat all of them as individuals with individual problems. As a dad, I’ve learned to listen and not blow my top.”
