For over a year now, Robert Pattinson has been linked to several famous women. From his relationship with FKA Twigs to his on-again, off-again romance with Taylor Swift, the world has been waiting to see what would happen next. Well, apparently, the wait is over — and we have our answer. It seems that the 32-year-old royal has found love again. On December 28, 2017, Stewart and Pattinson were spotted on a romantic date in London. Soon after, the couple became engaged. The following is a timeline of their relationship from 2012 to the present day.
2012: Early Days
The year 2012 was a breakout year for the British actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the drama The King’s Speech and was also named Actor of the Year by the London Critics’ Circle. So it was no surprise that he found fame and fortune. Plus, it seems that Stewart was also experiencing a career boost, as her 2013 album Banger Sings was a critical and commercial success.
The pair became an odd couple’s match. Stewart, the daughter of Hollywood legend Bruce, is the rare millennial who has chosen a very traditional path in life. While Stewart did not become an actress until she was 27 years old, she immediately rose to fame after appearing in Twigs’ music video for the song “Pussy Riot.”
The two fell in love and began dating in secret. They held hands and walked together at the 2012 Met Radio Day festival in London. It was later revealed that they had become engaged. The following year, the couple became high-profile parents when they welcomed a baby girl named Bumblebee. Their daughter was born with a heart defect and had to have open-heart surgery at nine months old. Bumblebee’s health issues only seemed to add to the charm of the family unit.
2013: Breaking Up
In 2013, their relationship seemed to be thriving. They were photographed holding hands and looking very happy at the 2013 Met Radio Day festival in London. However, the year was a rough one for Stewart. Amidst the media frenzy surrounding her personal life, Stewart admitted to Vogue magazine that she was experiencing a bit of a ‘midlife crisis.’ She began to question her choice in committing to a traditional marital life with Pattinson and revealed that she was “missing the fun”.
The pair were forced to take a step back from their relationship in early 2014 and began to see other people. The media immediately began to speculate if this was a publicity stunt orchestrated by the couple. The speculation was only heightened when the two appeared to be completely disconnected from one another. They did not speak to or about each other for over a year. While the media frenzy surrounding their personal lives continued, their professional commitments seemed unperturbed. They both continued to work steadily. In April 2014, Stewart was photographed for the first time in almost a year. However, she did not feature in any photos with Pattinson. Was this a sign that their relationship was over? Or, was she just keeping a low profile while she figured out what she wanted out of life?
2014: A Reunited Love Story?
In the summer of 2014, it was reported that the couple were finally ‘making up’ after months of ‘missing each other.’ They spent every other weekend together and held hands and walked together at London Fashion Week. The reports suggested that they were happy to be back together and missed no opportunity to express their love for one another. It was the perfect picture of a ‘reunited’ love story.
The following month, Stewart was photographed for the first time since their fallout in April. And, in a stunning show of solidarity, the couple attended the same Met Gala. Stewart wore a black dress with a golden fox headpiece, while Pattinson opted for a white suit. Their outfits were chosen to compliment one another and were an ode to their brief yet blossoming relationship. The pictures of the two smiling together at the event were undoubtedly a triumph. The following day, the pair held hands and skipped down the aisle at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The then-fiancée of Harry Windsor wore a blue dress, while the prince wore a stunning tuxedo. The ceremony itself was memorable. Prince Harry wore a suit jacket and tie as he walked down the aisle. He then proceeded to dance with Princess Grace at the reception. The wedding photos are still some of the most viewed on social media platforms today.
The year 2014 also saw the premiere of the third and final season of the popular vampire series, The Handmaid’s Tale. Set in a fictional version of Canada in the far future, the futuristic show centred on Offred, a handmaid who must serve the needs of the elite members of society. The show was an adaptation of the Margaret Atwood dystopian novel of the same name. But, whether you know the book or the show, the premiere of the final season was certainly memorable. The cast, which also starred Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes and Yusra Firansuw, was spectacular. The stunning costumes and sets were among the show’s many highlights. A post-apocalyptic world set in the near future seems a far cry from the glamour of high-profile dating. But, for Stewart and Pattinson, the world was about to see a very traditional wedding.
2015-2017: A Heated Battle For Supremacy
In 2015, Stewart and Pattinson’s relationship hit a rocky patch. While the pair were still seen regularly holding hands and looking happy, it was reported that they were going through ‘divorce proceedings.’ The divorce was finalized in June 2017, just over a year after it was filed. According to court documents cited by The New York Times, the couple argued over “property and parenting issues,” with the latter being “the most prominent” source of their tension. While the divorce was a deeply personal and private battle, the media were quick to note that it was an ‘awkward’ split, considering that their daughter, Bumblebee, was still very young and had recently started school. The actress’ sudden remarriage to director of photography Ben Richardson was also front-paged by the media. Bumblebee was a ray of sunshine in the midst of all the turmoil. The young girl’s health problems did not seem to affect her happiness. At least not that we could see on social media. The couple’s first child, son Gio, was born in August 2016 and his health issues were also widely publicized. While the world was focused on Stewart’s personal life, it was her ex-husband, Kevin Cook, who scored the highest number of lucrative book deals. The Hollywood veteran penned a tell-all memoir, Hollywood Husband: Kevin Cook’s Story, in which he detailed his life with Stewart. The memoir also included details about their highly publicized divorce. Cook’s book was a commercial and critical success. Stewart, on the other hand, began the year by announcing that she was writing a “bio-satire,” titled The Sun Also Rises, about “a wealthy family and the secrets that they hide.” She later revealed that she had been suffering from depression and anxiety for a while and that her first draft of the book was actually a form of therapy.
The Present Day: An Unexpected Alliance
On December 28, 2017, Stewart and Pattinson were again photographed together. This time, they were walking arm in arm near Buckingham Palace. The photos, which were taken by Annie Leibovitz and were published by DailyMail.com, were captioned “Love story from the royal wedding.” The couple later confirmed their engagement. According to royal author Benjamina Hope, the two have been an “unexpected” alliance and are “delighted” to have found one another. The royal author noted that, while the world has been focused on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding preparations, the “romance story” between Stewart and Pattinson had been brewing for some time and was a “secret” that the two had kept “between them.” Markle has expressed support for her new sister-in-law, calling Stewart a “true friend” and a “wonderful woman.” The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George have also congratulated the newlyweds on their big day, adding that they were “very excited” for the newlyweds.