Penny Lancaster says she would have left Rod Stewart if he refused to have children

Penny Lancaster says she would have left Rod Stewart if he refused to have children, a candid admission that underscores how central family is to their long-running partnership. In an interview with Saga magazine, Lancaster recalled the moment she realized children were non-negotiable, telling the British outlet, Yes I would have left him. And that would have been very hard. But we just went with the flow. Now Rod always says, I wish I’d said yes [to babies] earlier, because then we could have had more children.

The couple, who wed in 2007, are parents to two sons, Alastair Wallace and Aiden Patrick. Stewart, meanwhile, is already a father to six from previous relationships. Lancaster has often spoken about the dynamic of a blended family, joking that she is in effect a mother of three, describing Stewart as a big baby who needs her attention in a different way. When the pair first joined hearts and households, their focus on family was evident, even as Stewart’s life kept him in the public eye.

In the Saga interview, Lancaster touched on the couple’s history, including their early years together. As recently as five years ago, Stewart and Lancaster considered adoption, but it ended up not happening. We thought there might be too much of an age gap, she explained, adding how their two biological children have become the center of their world. The family portrait is complemented by Lancaster’s recollection that her husband has always been devoted to their children and to keeping his marriage strong.

Lancaster has often reflected on the secret to their enduring relationship. She has described her husband as endlessly energetic and described how she balances her own routines with his pace. I like to treat myself to a facial or a massage, she said, noting that he can’t sit still for long and doesn’t always share her need for downtime. Yet she remains confident that their bond comes from honesty, openness and regular communication, rather than grand gestures alone.

Their romance has been a steady thread through years of touring, recording and public appearances. Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster began dating in 1999 after Lancaster became his tour photographer, and their relationship eventually led to marriage in 2007. In July 2024, Stewart offered a window into how he keeps the romance alive, telling The Sun that candle-lit dinners and honest conversations help, along with avoiding late-night arguments after wine. Penny supported that sentiment, praising the strength of their bond and reiterating that family serves as their anchor.

That same month, Lancaster shared her thoughts on what sustains Stewart in his older years. In an interview with HELLO! magazine, she attributed much of his drive to the family around him, saying, It’s family, especially the younger generation. They give him strength and drive. She added a light note about their differences in routine, saying he is always on the go while she takes time for personal care, such as facials and massages. The couple’s dynamic, shaped by decades of collaboration and companionship, remains a defining feature of their public narrative.

The thread that ties the timeline together is a relationship that has evolved from late-1990s courtship to a resilient, multi-generational family structure. Lancaster’s comments underscore a personal decision that shaped the trajectory of her marriage and the broader Stewart household. While the singer has acknowledged regrets about timing, he has repeatedly described himself as a romantic partner who remains committed to nurturing their life together. The two continue to navigate the complexities of fame, family, and aging in the spotlight, together.