Downton Abbey star's shock split
Hugh Bonneville, famous for his role in Downton Abbey, has parted ways with his wife, Lucinda "Lulu" Williams, after 25 years of marriage. This revelation came shortly after Bonneville attended a co-star's wedding without his wedding ring.
A spokesperson for the actor confirmed the separation, stating, "I can confirm that Hugh Bonneville and Lulu Williams have separated," as reported by the UK Sun.
Sources close to the situation reveal that the decision to split was initiated by Bonneville himself. Williams reportedly felt that their lengthy 25-year marriage had been devalued, given Bonneville's recent focus on various aspects of his life.
The source explained, "Hugh has been away from home filming a lot this year. He has lost a bit of weight this summer, he was looking trim, tanned and relaxed."
Signs of trouble in their relationship first emerged when the 59-year-old actor attended the wedding of his Downton Abbey co-star, Michelle Dockery, without his wedding ring and without Lulu.
Their last public appearance together dates back to April when they attended a gala at the Old Vic Theatre in London.
Bonneville had previously praised his estranged wife, referring to her as his "bedrock" and "anchor", according to the UK Sun. He humorously recounted their initial connection, saying, "Lulu was running a marquee company … my mother rang her to hire some chairs or something and said, 'Do you remember Hugh?' and that was how we reconnected," though he jokingly added that it "infuriated" him that he had to "give full credit" to his mother.
To commemorate their 20th anniversary, the couple renewed their vows at the Graceland chapel in Las Vegas just five years ago. Bonneville and Williams initially met as teenagers but didn't embark on a romantic relationship until their 30s. They exchanged their vows in November 1998 and share a son, Felix, who is now 20 years old.
Images: Instagram