Is Charlie Pattinson gay? That is the question on everyone’s lips following the former “X Factor” contestant’s recent engagement to American socialite Gigi Hadid. Even though he is now officially a married man, the speculation surrounding the couple’s intimate relationship never really stopped. While some would love to see the world’s most eligible bachelor finally settle down with the woman he has allegedly been in love with for decades, others fear that the 56-year-old is simply continuing his philandering ways. Keep reading for more information on the relationship between Hadid and Pattinson.
Charlie And Gigi: An Unlikely Match
For those unfamiliar, Charlie Pattinson is the scion of a very wealthy British family. He is the great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill and the late Queen Victoria. His father is Simon, who passed away in 2011, and his mother is Jennie, Lady Pattinson. The millionaire owns a number of high-profile real estate properties in the U.K. as well as a private island in the Mediterranean. In 2013, he was knighted by the Queen for services to literature and education. He also created The Winston Churchill Literary Award to celebrate the great statesman’s enduring contribution to literature. In 2016, he was ranked #47 on the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful People, making him the highest-ranking Briton on the list. In 2020, he was ranked #70 on the same list, an indication of just how influential he continues to be.
While he may be best known in the U.K. for his association with the famous Hadids, over the years Charlie Pattinson has also been linked to a number of beautiful women. He has been romantically linked to models and socialites such as Jerry Hall, Helena Christensen, and most recently Gigi Hadid. However, it was the American socialite’s willingness to take a gamble on a long-distance relationship that ultimately sealed the deal. For years, Hadid has been based in New York City. She frequently traveled to London for the annual art auctions at Sotheby’s, which are a must for any affluent collector. In 2018, she purchased a villa in London’s affluent Chelsea neighborhood for £25 million, putting her estate now valued at £40 million.
It was at one of these auctions that Hadid first laid eyes on the bespectacled billionaire. The pair eventually struck up a conversation, leading to their eventual engagement. The American heiress saw a chance to finally realize her lifelong dream of owning a home in London. She quickly made the city her new base, throwing in a purchase of a £7.5 million apartment in the city’s prime Kensington neighborhood. Most recently, in August of 2020, Hadid purchased one of London’s most famous and luxurious homes, a Georgian townhouse on London’s Park Lane. The 6,000-square-foot spread features six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a private dining room. It also boasts an indoor pool, fully equipped wellness room, and spacious garden. The property briefly became available following the death of its original owner, Lady Caroline Blackett-Sharpe, in 2019. The future bride bought the apartment for £11.75 million.
Rumors About The Wedding
Although they are now husband and wife, the speculation surrounding the wedding of Charlie Pattinson and Gigi Hadid began almost as soon as the former X Factor contestant announced their engagement. The pair were first rumored to be planning to wed in the Autumn of 2019. Then, in January of 2020, it was revealed that the wedding would fall on March 5th, 2020. Finally, in February of that year, it was confirmed that the couple would wed at St. George’s Cathedral in London. Since the 1920s, the church has served as the flagship venue for high-profile royal weddings and the like. The location was also chosen to commemorate Pattinson’s family’s long tradition of attending church on the father’s side and the bride’s on the mother’s side.
The wedding was met with a storm of criticism from some quarters. British-Asian journalist Shadi Ghadban noted that the timing of the nuptials was particularly insensitive, given that the world was already battling the coronavirus. “It’s hard enough for couples to plan their wedding during a global health emergency. Social distancing and self-isolation are essential to avoid the spread of the virus,” Ghadban said. “But planning a wedding during a time like this is surely irresponsible.” He also questioned whether or not the couple had actually spoken to one another before their engagement, given that they had both been surrounded by rumor and speculation for so long.
New York Vs. London For The Honeymoon
As the world’s most eligible bachelor, Charlie Pattinson has spent most of his adult life traveling the globe, attending luxury hotels and sumptuous eateries, and dating some of the most attractive women. Now that he is married, the globe has become a bit smaller for the tycoon. With only one mansion in London, it’s doubtful that he’ll be making many trips across the pond any time soon. The newlyweds will spend their time dividing their affections between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Pattinson has always been very close to his family and the U.K. In fact, one of his father’s greatest regrets is that he never got a chance to see the United Kingdom before he passed away. The country holds a very special place in his heart, as does the city of London, where his business headquarters are located. He has two more siblings: an elder sister, Deborah, and a younger brother, Robert. The former X Factor contestant is also a nephew of Iris Murdoch, the legendary author of The Waves and The Philosopher’s Stone. It was through this connection that he was invited to attend the wedding of her great-granddaughter, Lizzy, to Irish poet and playwright George Bernard Shaw. The invitation came with a request to bring along a guest. This was, of course, a mere formality. The billionaire immediately accepted.
The Ultimate Alpha Male
What is clear is that Charlie Pattinson fits the bill of the ultimate alpha male. He is a successful, attractive, and well-known man who has had the opportunity to explore relationships with some of the world’s most desirable women. He has always been a bit of a romantic, evidenced by the fact that he was engaged to a model for a few years before he met the American socialite. Even before his time on the X Factor, Pattinson was involved in a number of famous relationships. He dated English model Jerry Hall in the late 1990s. The couple enjoyed a very public and exclusive romance that was featured in numerous magazines and newspapers. They were also pictured together at a number of iconic events, including the 1999 Royal Ascot Race Meet and the 2001 Boat Race between Harvard and Oxford. They eventually called it quits in 2003, although they remained close friends.
In 2005, he was linked to Marjorie Merriweather Post, widow of the late media mogul, Edward R. Murrow. The couple enjoyed a very private and cosy romance that was only made public in 2016 when they were spotted dining together at a New York City restaurant. They did not publicly confirm their relationship until 2018, when they were spotted sharing a romantic sunset stroll in St. Barts. In 2019, British Vogue listed Pattinson as the 7th most eligible bachelor in the world.
A Socialite’s Life
For many years, Charlie Pattinson lived a life that is the stuff of legends. He traveled the world, met with heads of state, and hobnobbed with the rich and famous. He even went on a few dates with Hollywood superstar Grace Kelly. The last official photo op the world-famous socialite did was in 1957, five years before her husband, Prince Rainier, became the French king. In 1960, Kelly passed away after a long illness. Since then, Charles’s life has reflected that of a true hermit. He rarely leaves his home in London and rarely attends social events. The one and only family member he does have contact with is his brother, Robert. The two men play a game of baccarat—a game of cards—once a week. Other than that, they mostly keep to themselves. So, it was quite a shock to see him pop the question to Gigi Hadid.
The 56-year-old tycoon has spent decades acquiring status, power, and wealth. He is the ultimate alpha male, the sort of man you would expect to see at the top of a very long list. It is no wonder that he has been able to attract a woman like Hadid, who epitomizes high society. Theirs is a union designed to impress, one that will no doubt delight their friends and family alike.