Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville has separated from his wife, Lucinda 'Lulu' Williams, after 25 years of marriage.
The pair, who first tied the knot back in 1998, first met as teenagers and got married in their thirties and now share a son, Felix, and a West Sussex home together.
According to The Sun, a spokesperson for the 59-year-old Downtown Abbey actor confirmed the news over the weekend (30 September).
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Bonneville, starred as the Earl of Grantham, Robert Crawley, in the beloved period drama between 2010 to 2015, as well as films Downton Abbey in 2019 and Downton Abbey: A New Era in 2022.
As well as Downton Abbey, the actor is also well known for starring in the Paddington films and Notting Hill.
However, he is now a single man after a quarter of a century.
"I can confirm that Hugh Bonneville and Lulu Williams have separated," a source revealed. "It is clear that Lulu feels as if 20-odd years of marriage counts for nothing."
Williams regularly accompanied Bonneville to various red carpet and social events throughout their marriage but, last month, however, she was not present at a particular outing.
Bonneville attended his former co-star Michelle Dockery’s wedding with Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge's brother, Jasper, without his wife.
The actor was also reportedly seen without his wedding ring during the celebration.
The Sun has since claimed that mutual friends of the couple are saddened by the former couple's split.
"It’s a shame as locally they were known to be a very sociable couple,” a source told the outlet.
They continued: "Hugh has been away from home filming a lot this year.
"He has lost a bit of weight this summer, he was looking trim, tanned and relaxed."
Just five years ago, in 2018, the former pair celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal at the Graceland chapel in Las Vegas.
Back in 2012, Williams reportedly opened up about how she felt about her husband's growing fame in the limelight.
"I don’t take any notice," she explained. "I don’t notice women fawning over him – although I know everybody talks about it.
"Don’t forget, we met as teenagers and have a lot of history. We’re not fazed by the glitz of the show business world. We are just home-loving people and don’t make a habit of hanging out at celebrity parties."
Tyla has reached out to Hugh Bonneville's representatives for comment.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Downton Abbey, Sex and Relationships, ITV
Rhiannon Ingle