The beautiful thing about love and marriage is that everyone experiences them differently. No two unions are truly alike, just as the bond between any two married parties is wholly unique.

My partner and I, for example, can’t stand to be without one another for more than a few hours at a time. Call it cheesy, but we find that life is better lived together, as much as possible. It’s not for everyone, of course, but it works for us.

Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster, it seems, have an entirely different approach to things. In a new interview with the Daily Mirror, legendary musician Stewart revealed the secret to his and Penny’s marriage, stating that they “often spend all day apart”.

CHELTENHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Sir Rod Stewart watches the racing as he attends day 1 ‘Champion Day’ of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15, 2022, in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have one of the strongest marriages in show business. Lasting relationship in such an environment are notoriously difficult to navigate, so if any pair know the formula to a happy marriage, it’s them.

The couple has been an item since long before tying the knot in 2007, and by all accounts, their love for one another burns bright all these years later.

Yet their way of doing things might come across as slightly unconventional to others who have been married for any meaningful stretch of time.

“We stay within the perimeters of the house but we don’t see each other until the evening,” Stewart told the Daily Mirror.

“We wake up, have a cup of tea in bed together, and then she goes her way and I go mine. It’s lovely, we are not on top of each other all the time. We’re very fortunate in that position.”

ROME, ITALY – MAY 24: Singer Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster are seen on May 24, 2018, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Agostino Fabio/GC Images,)

In 1999, Penny was at a party with her friend, Maria Falco, who encouraged her to speak with Rod.

Lancaster, a model-turned-photographer, accepted Falco’s dare, offering to take some photos of the Maggie May singer.

Developing an instant connection, the couple announced in 2005 that Lancaster was pregnant with their first child, born November 27, 2005.

It’s also the same year that Maria Falco, a 39-year-old mother of two, died from breast cancer.

“Lots of people take credit for getting Rod and I together but it was actually Maria…when Maria saw Rod she dared me to go up and ask him for his autograph,” Lancaster said. “…It’s still hard to believe that she’s not here.”

Pop star ROD STEWART & girlfriend PENNY LANCASTER at the opening night party for Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood’s art exhibition, in West Hollywood. 01NOV2002. Paul Smith / Featureflash

Stewart and Lancaster share two sons together, Alistair and Aiden, while Rod is a father to a total of eight children.

His first child Sarah, born in 1963, is from his relationship with ex-girlfriend Susannah Boffey (1963 to 1964). He then married Alana Stewart in 1979 and they had Kimberly (1979) and Sean (1980). The singer then had a relationship with model Kelly Emberg and they have a daughter, Ruby, born in 1987. From his second marriage, with model Rachel Hunter, he has two kids, Renee (born 1992) and Liam (born 1994).

What do you think is the secret to a happy marriage? Let us know in the comments box.

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