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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Saffron Otter

Ellie Goulding's 'strained' marriage, brutal Ed Sheeran dig and Prince Harry rumours

Popstar Ellie Goulding tied the knot to husband Caspar Jopling in a grand fairytale wedding in York Minster that was attended by royalty.

The 2019 ceremony came a year after they announced their engagement following their first encounter at a dinner party.

But the Starry Eyed singer, 36, has admitted it was far from love at first sight and that they shared nothing in common initially.

Speaking on Jessie Ware's Table Manners podcast in 2020, Ellie said: "We didn't fancy each other at all. We were just sat next to each other at dinner.

"I was feeling really rough. I had terrible bronchitis at the time and I was really ill - the most ill if been in ages. All I wanted to do was go to bed after the show [Jingle Bell Ball] and I went to this dinner that my friend had kindly put on for me.

Newly married Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling leave York Minster after their wedding (PA)
They are now reportedly spending time apart (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

"And I was sat next to Caspar and he was from a big farming family and I talked about how I was vegan. And he talked about how much he loved meat: beef and chicken and lamb and whatever else. So we literally had nothing in common."

The couple have managed to keep their relationship extremely private but shared the news of welcoming baby Arther in 2021.

But now it has been reported that their marriage is on the rocks due to their hectic work schedules, although they may come to a co-parenting agreement, according to sources.

Neither Ellie nor Caspar have moved out of their family home and they have continued to enjoy holidays together.

"There is no discussion of a divorce and neither of them have been in a new relationship," a source told The Sun, before adding: "The priority is to keep good friends and remain amicable whilst they work out their next steps, so they can stay close and enjoy being mum and dad to Arthur.

Ellie married Caspar in a fairytale ceremony in York Minster (PA)

"There will always be a lot of love between them despite some difficult times, and they want the best for each other."

The source went on to say that away from their time co-parenting Arthur, they are living separate lives.

Before falling for Caspar, Ellie dated a string of celebrities; including Dougie Poynter of McFly fame, Ed Sheeran and even Prince Harry, according to reports.

The star first dated Radio 1 host Greg James, now 37, for 18 months from 2010 until 2012. They reportedly ended things because of their busy schedules, as his radio career was taking off at the time.

A source told The Sun: "It was just a real struggle for them to be in the same place at the same time.

The source added: "The split is amicable and they are still friends."

Ellie then briefly dated Ed Sheeran in 2013, with their romance immortalised in his song Don't.

They were linked together after being spotted holding hands at the MTV VMA Awards.

However Ellie denied the speculation and took to Twitter to state there was nothing going on between them.

In a Tweet written that night, which she later deleted, she wrote: "I love that holding hands with my friends means we're an item."

"In that case I am in many relationships. Lover not a hater. #whatthef**k."

Later in the year, Ed offered a different version of events whilst making an appearance on US radio show Clock 98.9.

He revealed they were more than just good mates at the time, explaining: "I mean, normal people don't hold hands if they're just friends."

Niall Horan and Ellie Goulding went on a few dates (Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Greg James and Ellie Goulding enjoyed a high profile romance between 2010 and 2012 (Getty)

But this romance shattered when it was claimed she cheated on him with One Direction star Niall Horan - which she has denied.

Ed sang: "And I never saw him as a threat, until you disappeared with him to have sex."

The following year, she released On My Mind, which many fans argue was a response to Don't, which she has also denied.

The lyrics say: "You don't mess with love, you mess with the truth" and "You wanted my heart but I just liked your tattoos."

When it comes to her relationship with Niall, it was nothing more than a few dates, she says.

Ellie told Sevnteen: "We went on a few dates, and it was really fun. He's a really, really lovely guy.

"He's got the biggest sense of humour, he's very caring, and I see him as a genuine friend in the industry."

The pair are said to have been 'all over each other' (Getty)
Dougie Poynter and Ellie Goulding dated for a number of years before their work commitments got in the way (Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock)

The star then partnered up with fellow popstar Dougie Poynter, from McFly, a year later.

Although as the pair of them lead hectic work schedules in the music world, they called time on their romance in 2016.

Ellie was busy touring the world with her latest tunes while Dougie had moved to acting, trying to crack America at the time.

A source at the time said: "They are finding it hard to spend time together as Ellie’s music career takes her all over the world and she is pulled in different directions.

"Dougie is trying to make it in America as an actor and they are drifting apart."

And before she met her now husband, Ellie is rumoured to have dated Prince Harry after they were spotted cosying up at the Audi Polo Challenge in May 2016.

This was after they met at Prince William's wedding in 2011 and reportedly exchanged flirty texts.

A source told The Sun at the time: "He has told friends how much he likes Ellie and she is clearly taken by him."

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