Penny Lancaster has quipped that she should receive a medal for her lengthy romance with Sir Rod Stewart, as the couple mark more than a quarter of a century together.
The 55-year-old, who works as a model, police officer and television presenter, opened up about her relationship with the 81-year-old rock legend.
"Yes, 26 years! I deserve a medal, don't I? Only joking," she told the Best magazine.
Ms Lancaster and the Maggie May singer first crossed paths in 1999 when she was studying at Barking College and he was performing.
Penny Lancaster opened up about her marriage to Rod Stewart
| ITVThey exchanged vows in 2007 and share two sons: Alastair, now 20, and Aiden, 14.
Mr Stewart has previously been married to Rachel Hunter and Alana Stewart, making Ms Lancaster his third and longest-lasting wife.
The couple maintain their connection through consistent effort and shared experiences, the TV personality explained.
She cited regular date nights featuring dinner, theatre outings and leisurely strolls together as a key reason for their successful relationship.
"We don't take each other for granted and make sure we have date nights together," she told the publication.
Rod Stewart has been married to Penny Lancaster since 2007
| GETTYShe added that even mundane activities like the school run become opportunities for togetherness with a coffee stop on the journey home.
Flirtation and laughter remain central to their bond after all these years, she continued.
The pair also place great importance on marking milestones in style.
For their most recent wedding anniversary, Mr Stewart whisked his wife away on a train journey from Paris to Portofino, retracing the romantic geography of their relationship since he proposed in the French capital and they wed in the Italian coastal town.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster share two sons | GETTY
Ms Lancaster also credited periods of separation with helping to preserve the excitement in their relationship.
"We don't [live in each other's pockets] and time apart helps keep the spark alive," she explained.
At the time of the interview, the couple had been apart for three weeks and were eagerly anticipating their reunion.
"We're desperately missing each other and have been counting down the days," she said. "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."
Penny Lancaster joked she 'deserves a medal' for being married to the singer for so long
| GETTYShe went on to note that the pattern of distance has been present since the very beginning of their relationship.
During their first year together, Ms Lancaster was studying photography in Britain whilst the singer resided in America, with the pair spending countless hours conversing by telephone about art and life.
Lancaster offered a glimpse into her husband's character away from the spotlight, describing a man quite different from his flamboyant public image.
"Rod has a deeply spiritual, sensitive and artistic side. That's what he's like underneath it all. That's the real man," she revealed.