Ever since she first got together with Rio Ferdinand and became stepmum to his three children, Kate Ferdinand has done her best to shield them from the limelight. Along with Rio, she has made sure their faces are never seen on social media – but as Lorenz, 13, Tate, 11, and nine-year-old Tia get older, it’s causing a few disagreements.
“The kids, especially Lorenz, don’t see what’s wrong with them being on social media, but Kate isn’t having it,” our source says. “She’s very protective of them and having found fame at a young age herself on TOWIE, she knows the downsides of it.
“A lot of the kids’ friends are on social media – either with their own accounts or on their parents’ – but it’s still a firm ‘no’ from Kate. Rio is more up for it and doesn’t see the harm if the kids make occasional appearances, but she is adamant.”
Kate and Rio Ferdinand's relationship in pictures:
Kate Wright and Rio Ferdinand relationship timeline - slider
1 of 24Kate Wright and Rio Ferdinand's relationship timeline: Swipe through to see how their romance has blossomed
2 of 24January 2017: Rio's spotted leaving Kate's house
Rumours first started to circulate about a possible romance between footballer Rio Ferdinand and TOWIE star Kate Wright back in January 2017, after Rio was spotted leaving her house in Essex.Kate had recently split from her co-star Dan Edgar, while Rio's wife Rebecca sadly passed away in 2015 after a short battle with cancer.
3 of 24July 2017: Kate and Rio spotted out together
Kate and Rio officially went public with their relationship, after being spotted out for a romantic drink in London. Read more on that here.
4 of 24July 2017: Kate and Rio go Instagram official
Kate and Rio went Insta official when Rio shared an adorable family snap featuring Kate and his three kids wearing matching trainers.
5 of 24July 2017: Kate and Rio go Instagram official
Kate then shared a similar pic, confirming she's been spending time with Rio's family.
6 of 24August 2017: Kate makes her debut on Rio's Instagram
In August 2017, Rio shared a snap from his family holiday in Portugal featuring Kate bang in the middle. He captioned the photo, 'Decent day with the fam ❤ufe0f '
7 of 24September 2017: Kate quits showbiz to focus on new family
Kate Wright reveals she's quit showbiz and reality TV in order to focus on being a step-mum to Rio's three kids, Lorenz, Tate and Tia.She said, "I'm taking a step back from the public eye, I want to keep my life private as I lived my previous relationship on TOWIE, my priority right now is Rio and the family."
8 of 24September 2017: Kate and Rio move in together
Speculation starts to mount over Kate and Rio's living situation, as Kate posts a number of workout selfies from Rio's home gym.
9 of 24October 2017: Kate shares first couple picture with Rio
After months of keeping us waiting and teasing pictures on Instagram, Kate finally posted her and Rio's first couple picture. And it's hilarious.
10 of 24October 2017: Kate and Rio holiday in Dubai
In October, Kate and Rio enjoyed a romantic holiday together in Dubai.
11 of 24October 2017: Kate shares Halloween snap of Rio's kids
Seemingly stepping up to her role as step-mum, Kate shared a (slightly terrifying) picture of Rio's kids dressed up for Halloween on Instagram.
12 of 24November 2017: Kate and Rio prepare for first Christmas together
In November 2017, Rio posted his first picture of him and Kate together with a festive post on Instagram.
13 of 24December 2017: Rio shares ADORBS couple pic on Instagram
After months of keeping their romance under wraps, the couple are now living the PDA life all over social media.
14 of 24December 2017: Kate spends Christmas with Rio and his kids
Rio shared another family snap, revealing Kate was spending Christmas with him and his three children. And their matching PJs are TOO much.
15 of 24January 2018
To mark the end of 2017, Rio shared a post dedicated to Kate. Below the cute throwback snap he wrote, 'To say 2017 has been a tough year would be a huge understatement. Some dark moments but brightness has been spread around me and mine by this one in many different forms. Christmas being just 1 example, all the thoughtful little details that make things that much better for all of us ud83dude18 little throwback pic.'
16 of 24January 2018: Kate also shares touching throwback
Kate also took to Instagram to reflect on the last year, paying tribute to Rio and his family. She wrote, '2017.... the hardest but most rewarding year yet! Ups & downs but I have gained 4 of the most precious people ud83eudd17.... Happy new year everyone, I hope your year is filled with health & happiness, keep your loved ones close ❤ufe0f❤ufe0f .'
17 of 24January 2018: Kate and Rio in Disneyland
Kate and Rio are the definition of couple goals as they pay a visit to Disneyland Paris.
18 of 24January 2018: Kate and Rio's daughter Tia wear matching outfits
Just when we thought Kate and Rio couldn't get any more adorable, Kate posts a super sweet snap wearing a matching outfit with Rio's daughter Tia. Our hearts!
19 of 24March 2018: Kate pays tribute to Rio's children
She wrote, 'Happy Mother's Day to my lovely mum ud83dudc97 I love you so much. Although I am lucky to have my mum here with me today I can't help but feel so overwhelmed and full of emotions that both Rio and the children don't have their mums with them today. 'We are living in a house full of grief trying to get through and days like today just feel so tough. Celebrate your mother's and keep them close. ud83dudc97 & happy Mother's Day to all the step mums out there it's a hard role that I don't think anyone often gets the credit they deserve for it. If you aren't being celebrated make sure u know u r doing an amazing job.' [sic]
20 of 24May 2018: Kate reveals Rio's kids have been begging them to have a baby
Kate revealed, "At the beginning, I could never imagine the kids would talk about the future with me. When I'd pick them up from school they'd say I was an aunt, then it turned to their dad's girlfriend and now they say I'm their step-mum. "On a daily basis, they'll ask 'when are you giving us a baby brother or sister?' I have to say 'not yet'. They'll say 'when do you want to get married, we want to be bridesmaids'."
21 of 24May 2018: Rio thanks ‘beautiful girlfriend’ Kate in heartfelt BAFTA speech
Rio picked up the award for best documentary at the ceremony following his touching documentary Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad, which focussed on dealing with grief and raising his three children after his wife died in 2015.He said, "I'm just pleased to say that this documentary has played a part in propelling me forward into a period of happiness in my life now where my kids are very happy. I've got a beautiful girlfriend now and we are making steps in the right direction."
22 of 24May 2018: Kate praises Rio after BAFTA win with beautiful post
She wrote, 'My baby won a bafta!!! Overwhelmed with emotion for you... Feels strange to be happy through winning something through sadness, but I'm so happy for you, for raising awarness and helping others. You are amazing, here is to the future , but always keeping the past in our hearts. I love you ❤ufe0f.' [sic]
23 of 24May 2018: Rio opened up about plans to marry Kate
Rio told the Daily Star, "We do talk about it. But I'm not going to sit here and give you a date."
24 of 24November 2018: Rio and Kate got ENGAGED!
Rio and Kate shared photos on Instagram, revealing that Rio had proposed to Kate on holiday in Abu Dhabi with his kids' approval. Rio wrote, ''She said yes ud83dudc8d ❤ufe0f How these 3 kids kept it a secret I'll never know ud83eudd37ud83cudffd♂ufe0f❤ufe0f❤ufe0f❤ufe0f❤ufe0f❤'. [sic]Kate added, 'The perfect end to our holiday ... How could the answer not be yes ❤ufe0f❤ufe0f.' [sic]
Kate, 28, has made her feelings known on the couple’s Ferdinand Fitness YouTube channel. Twice a week, Kate and Rio, 41, do a 30-minute live class with Lorenz recording and reading out comments.
During one – which Kate had to sit out because of an injury – Lorenz spoke about joining in, but said it would be difficult because his face is not allowed to be seen. Kate then told him, “And it won’t until you’re 16.” She also said that if he did, he would have to be filmed from behind or joked he would have to wear a mask. It is a subject that keeps coming up and Rio – whose first wife, the kids’ mum Rebecca died of cancer in 2015 – feels they may have to give in soon.
“Rio is definitely more relaxed about it and would love to do more online fitness stuff with the kids, but he knows their faces would have to be seen,” our insider says.
“But Kate has put her foot down. She feels they already show a lot of their family life on social media and thinks they’ve struck the right balance of giving people an insight, while still maintaining the kids’ privacy. She knows that once they’re 16, she won’t have a say in the matter and they can do what they like, but until then she feels it’s their job to protect them.”
The insider adds, “They’ve been through so much with losing their mum – she doesn’t want to put any more pressure on them. She wants the kids to enjoy their childhoods without everyone knowing who they are and what they look like.”
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