Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are once again set to be married! The 23-year-old actress, who wed the Hollywood hottie in 2015, is reportedly set to marry her long-term boyfriend, hotel owner and artist Rupert Sanders, 46, on Monday, December 18, according to the New York Post.
The newly engaged couple have had trouble conceiving a baby together, and Sanders has talked openly about their struggles on his Instagram account. But despite their status as “first cousins once removed,” as Vogue put it, the couple is determined to make their blissful union work. Here, we examine the reasons why this time might be different.
The Rumors
It wasn’t that long ago that there were rumors that Stewart and Pattinson were getting married, which they both denied. But with her upcoming movie, Sexy Happy, set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the former couple couldn’t keep the speculation to themselves. On October 26, Pattinson took to Instagram to post a throwback picture of himself with Stewart, writing, “I said it before and I’ll say it again, @kristenstewart and I aren’t engaged. I have no plans to marry her. Ever.”
While most people (including Vogue) took this to mean that the two were definitely not an item, Stewart later told the New York Post that the hunk was just doing his “publicity stunt.” She added, “We’re not getting married. We’ve talked about it and we understand what the other is trying to do. So it’s funny to start rumors when you don’t even want to get married.”
The In-Laws
One of the biggest reasons why this time might be different is the in-laws. Pattinson’s parents, Polly and David, and Stewart’s parents, Rob and Elisabeth, all met for the first time during the New York City marriages ceremony. And judging from their Instagram lives, it’s clear that they’re already feeling Pattinson and Stewart’s bliss. In her own words, Stewart described her parents’ first impressions of Sanders: “He was a little bit of an enigma, I suppose, at first. I mean, you don’t really know what to expect with a complete stranger, especially when they show up at an engagement party with a woman you’ve only known for a few weeks. But as soon as they got to know him, they were really, really into him. And he was really, really into them.”
While many (including The Hollywood Reporter) are speculating that this time might be different because the former couple want children, Stewart later told Vogue that having kids with Sanders is not a consideration: “I don’t want to have kids with anyone else. It’s not even a question.”
The Age Difference
Another reason why this time might be different is that Stewart is now a legal adult and can make her own decisions. When she turned 18, she was given full autonomy over her personal life. It’s been said that this is why she and Sanders, who are both 46, had to go through a divorce court proceeding before they could officially settle down. The age difference between the two is also a consideration. While it’s not often discussed, there is a big gap between the couple’s ages: she’s five years younger than the 46-year-old Sanders.
It’s been six years since Stewart’s dad died of cancer. Since then, she’s been living with her mum and stepdad, Rob, who is four years her senior. So, while she’s now legally an adult, she’s still very much a child in some ways. And this is one of them. Not only is Sanders her stepdad’s friend, but he’s also been a father figure to her since before she could even talk. So in many ways, this time might be her “coming of age” ceremony. It’s been a long time coming, but Stewart finally has the life she’s always wanted. And as she said, she doesn’t want to change a thing.
The Darker Side
There is another side to this story, however, one that not many people know about. Stewart’s relationship with her celebrity dad, Robert, wasn’t always as idyllic as it seems on the surface. In fact, it was pretty tumultuous. After her mum, Elisabeth, divorced Stewart’s dad, Rob, in 2006, she gained full custody of Kristen. And while Rob tried to be a good father, he wasn’t always able to shield his daughter from the excesses of Hollywood. Even now that they’re older and wiser, it’s apparent that Rob and Stewart still have a lot to learn about parental etiquette.
On October 12, Stewart posted a mysterious Snapchat story with the caption, “What’s wrong with these people?” Accompanying the story was a photograph of herself at a playground, with the following description: “Going to the park with my daughter. She’s so proud of her new swings. They’re the ones with the yellow buckets. Aren’t they beautiful? I love these swings. They’re so exciting! They actually work!”
The couple made headlines in 2008 when they had an extremely public breakdown that was brought on by Robert demanding that Stewart meet his needs for power and control. The incident was rumored to be caused by Robert’s dopamine (regardless of whether or not this is true) and led to a restraining order being filed against him by Stewart. A court case between the two ensued, where Robert was ordered to get counseling and refrain from drug and alcohol use. The two appeared to make peace in 2017, however, they still haven’t spoken about what caused the fight in the first place. But if they can work through their issues, maybe they’ll be able to give their love a real shot at lasting. And it wouldn’t be the first time that Stewart has fought for her love.
In conclusion, it’s evident that there are a lot of reasons why this time might be different, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We don’t know for sure that this time will be different. And even if it is, who knows how long it will last. But we do know that if it ends up being just a publicity stunt, the world will still be a much better place. Because at least they tried. Sometimes, love just isn’t enough.