Anne Robinson Confirms Relationship with Andrew Parker Bowles
TV presenter Anne Robinson has confirmed her relationship with the Queen’s ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles. Unconfirmed reports at the end of last year suggested the former Weakest Link host, 79, and the retired cavalry officer, 84, were dating. Now Robinson has confirmed they are, telling Saga magazine: ‘Yes. Full stop. Mind your own business.’ The interview comes as Robinson is announced as the publication’s new agony aunt, a role she will take on from their June issue.
Anne Robinson’s Thoughts on Dating in Her Seventies
Speaking about returning to the dating pool in her seventies, after being single for more than a decade, she told Saga: ‘I’d been out of the game for so long. And also I don’t drink. If you don’t drink, you’re not as reckless are you? ‘I’m a great believer in surprising yourself by taking risks. Personally and professionally. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If the worst that can happen is you get some egg on your face, that’s not terrible is it?’
Anne Robinson’s Views on Age and Dating
Anne became known as the ‘Queen of Mean’ for her cutting comments to contestants and her catchphrase ‘you are the weakest link, goodbye’ when she presented the quiz show, which was first broadcast in 2000 before ending 12 years later. On why dating can be easier in older age, she said: ‘You’re much more selective about what you’re going to get into a tizz about. Nothing matters that much. You’re not going to change.’
Relationship Details
In December a source claimed Anne and Andrew had been secretly together for eight months, wanting to keep the relationship quiet for as long as possible. Speaking to HELLO!, a source said: ‘They’ve been having an affair for about eight months. It’s an extraordinary match as they’re from very different backgrounds, and Anne has a reputation for being quite bossy. The Brigadier goes down to spend the night at her place and although their friends have known about their relationship, they’ve all managed to keep it out of the public eye – until now.’
Anne Robinson’s Personal Background
Anne previously hosted Channel 4 quiz show Countdown, becoming its sixth presenter and the first female to take the role, before stepping down in 2022 having recorded 265 episodes of the show. She was previously married to the late Charles Wilson, a former journalist and newspaper executive, until 1973 and got from divorced her second husband, John Penrose, in 2007.
Andrew Parker-Bowles and Queen Camilla
When was Queen Camilla married to Andrew Parker-Bowles? Andrew married Camilla in 1973 and they had two children together, Tom and Laura, before divorcing in 1995. He later married Rosemary Pitman, who died of cancer in 2010. King Charles, who was divorced from Diana, Princess of Wales in 1996, wed Camilla in April 2005 at the Guildhall in Windsor. The Queen and Andrew have remained friends, with the former army officer among the select guest list for the King’s coronation.
Interesting Facts
Author Jilly Cooper’s fictional character of Rupert Campbell-Black in books Rivals and Riders is said to be inspired by a composite of Andrew and various other aristocrats.
The interview is in June’s issue of Saga magazine.