Rachel Stevens has announced her split from husband Alex Bourne just one month before they were due to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary. The 44-year-old singer shared the news that her marriage to childhood sweetheart Alex, 45, has come to an end on her Instagram Stories, according to the Mirror.
In her social media statement, the former S Club 7 star wrote: "I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate. While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other.
"I feel so incredibly grateful for the life we built together and will now continue to be focused on moving forward united as a family."
Rachel wed Alex in a Jewish ceremony on August 2 2009. They are proud parents to daughters Amelie and Minnie.
The couple had known each other since childhood, with Rachel previously telling the Loose Women panel: "We were boyfriend and girlfriend when we were 12. We were boyfriend and girlfriend on and off during our teens until I got into the band, and he went off and did his stuff.
The couple had known each other since childhood, with Rachel previously telling the Loose Women panel: "We were boyfriend and girlfriend when we were 12. We were boyfriend and girlfriend on and off during our teens until I got into the band, and he went off and did his stuff.
"Then we bumped into each other randomly in our late twenties, and at that point I'd sworn off men, but it was really lovely to see him. But I was going off to LA at the time, so no, but then we reconnected. We obviously had all of that history and now, the rest is history."
Their lavish wedding was held in posh London hotel Claridge's and Rachel walked down the aisle to her own S Club 7 hit, I've Never Had A Dream Come True. Awkwardly, none of her bandmates were invited.
The bride and groom laid on a visual feast for their guests, including ice sculptures, orchids, grand pianos and a ballroom swagged in silk. Star guests included Coronation Street Kate Ford - known for playing Tracey Barlow - and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, as well as ex-Strictly dancers.
Having hit the spotlight in her teens as a singer, Rachel found some success as a solo artist after S Club's split, but her second album peaked at 28 in the charts and plans for a third were later axed. Stevens disappeared from the public eye for a few years, resurfacing in 2008 to compete on Strictly Come Dancing with partner Vincent Simone, and the pair came second.
Since then Rachel has focused on her family and had designs on launching her own brand.
She previously told the Daily Mail: "My first proper job was in fashion, but at lunchtimes I’d nip into the canteen at Sony Music for a free meal, because my brother worked there. One day, two producers came over and asked me if I could sing… [Now] my goal is to create my own fashion and lifestyle brand."
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