Penny Lancaster breaks down in tears as she opens up on Sir Rod Stewart relationship challenge: 'It took a long time'

Their relationship began in 1999 when Lancaster was studying at Barking College and Sir Rod was performing at a concert.

The couple went on to welcome their first son, Alistair, now 20, in 2005 before marrying in 2007. Their second child, Aiden, 14, arrived in 2011.

However, their path to romance was far from straightforward, with Sir Rod's band leader playing an unexpected role in delaying their first date by nine months.

The encounter came in the aftermath of Sir Rod's divorce from his second wife, Rachel Hunter, to whom he had been married from 1990 until 2006.

His band leader and bass player, Carmine Appice, made the decision to keep Ms Lancaster's telephone number from the singer, believing his friend needed time to heal.

"He was an absolute gentleman," Sir Rod recalled. "He didn't think I was in the right position because I had just got a divorce and didn't know if I was coming or going and he said I will give it to you when I think you are ready."

The rocker joked: "I should have fired him, but I couldn't!"

Ms Lancaster grew tearful as she recounted how Mr Appice had warned Sir Rod he would "go a bit crazy over the summer" and that "Penny seems like a nice girl."

Having heard nothing from her future husband, she assumed their meeting was simply a pleasant memory.

"I really thought that was the last I would see of Rod," she explained. "I remember processing those photos I took of Rod [at his concert] and thinking, what a lovely memory and that was that."

When Sir Rod finally reached out, Ms Lancaster found herself entering a complex family dynamic.

The Faces frontman was already a father to six children from previous relationships, ranging from five-year-old Liam to Kimberly, who was approaching her 21st birthday.

"I tiptoed very lightly," Ms Lancaster said of the challenge of being accepted, struggling to contain her emotions. "Because there were lots of personalities, and more important, there were children ranging from all ages."

She described the situation as unlike anything she had previously encountered, choosing to remain in the background while making herself available if the children wished to approach her.

"It took a long time," she continued through tears before admitting the family unit eventually overcame the challenging circumstances. "But we got there and we have got to a place that I never thought I would get to with them."

Sir Rod confirmed his children now adore Ms Lancaster and seek her advice. The tears flowed once more as the conversation turned to a profound spiritual moment the couple shared in 2018.

Through a charity bid, they secured an audience with Pope Francis, an experience that left a lasting impression on both of them.

"As the Pope Francis came along, the eye contact that we got was very powerful," Ms Lancaster recalled. "He spent quite a time with us and he placed both our hands on top of each other and placed his hand on top of ours."

When asked by Ms Rani what the encounter meant to her, Ms Lancaster struggled to find words.

"It sort of cemented all the wishes that Rod and I had for one another," she explained.

"All those sort of prayers that we had had quietly," she said. "He gave us two rosary beads too, and he blessed us as well and it made us feel like... it was all our destiny."

Ms Lancaster was not alone in becoming emotional during the interview. Sir Rod himself was moved to tears when discussing the foundations of their enduring partnership.

"I think the age difference, there are downsides to it, but there is a maturity I may have taught Penny and there is an honesty she has taught me," he explained.

The couple have established firm rules for managing disagreements, never arguing before bed or after drinking wine, and resolving any conflicts swiftly.

Choking back tears, Sir Rod shared the wisdom he passes to all his children.

"I try to teach my kids, all of them, that real men say sorry, that's what they do," he said. "There is a wonderful honesty between us and long may it last."