Rio Ferdinand and TOWIE’s Kate Wright have chosen to keep their romance away from the spotlight since being introduced by mutual friends nearly a year ago.
They’ve rarely been pictured together which is why Rio’s latest Instagram post describing Kate as “family” is a clear sign the couple are in it for the long-run.
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Rio, 38, uploaded an image on Sunday night showing Kate, 26, holding hands with his youngest child, while his other two children walked beside her.
His caption read: “Out for dinner #FamilyTime.”
The athlete’s description of Kate as being part of his family was the clearest sign yet that his relationship with her is serious and for the long-haul.
And that’s certainly what the former footballer’s fans felt with their gushing comments about Rio and Kate’s future, including one who remarked: “And they lived happily ever after.”
Another said: “Wish you and your family and special lady Kate all the happiness – your journey starts now.”
And a third wrote: “Beautiful pic. That’s a good woman right there stepping up. You deserve all the happiness in the world wishing u and your beautiful family best for the future.”
Rio is father to three children: Lorenz, 11, Tate, nine, and six-year-old Tia.
Their mother Rebecca, Rio’s wife, tragically died from breast cancer in 2015 at the age of just 34.
Kate is the first woman Rio has been romantically linked to since Rebecca’s passing, and fans have rallied around the couple’s relationship, saying they’re happy Rio has another chance at love.
One wrote: “So happy for all of them … just finished reading his book! So sad what they’ve been through… I really hope he and his children find happiness with this young lady.”
Another said: “Rio I’m chuffed to bits that you’re finding your feet and making that most important step of your life!”
A third added: “Oh Rio that’s so beautiful. Glad you’ve found happiness again.”
Other fans said they could see a bond between Kate and Rio’s children.
One said: “This is beautiful, clearly a special bond between Kate and your beautiful children. Wishing you & your family all the best for the future.”
A second said: “Shout out to Kate, takes a lot for someone to take on anyone with kids, she’s doing a cracking job!!”
And another agreed: “Absolutely perfect so lovely to see you all happy Rio. I think you have picked a winner in Kate.”
Rio opened up about his romance with Kate for the first time during an interview with This Morning earlier this month.
“I’m really happy now,” he told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
“The kids are the happiest they’ve been and I’m in a relationship and it’s going well. My kids deserve to be happy.”
He also said his three children had been “involved” in the romance from the start, saying: “They have to be part of that conversation so there’s not been any stage going into this relationship where they’ve not been involved.
“As long as they feel they’re involved and they’re in that conversation I think there’s a chance you can get to this place of happiness.”
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Kate revealed in September that she’d stepped away from TOWIE and quit the showbiz world in order to focus on Rio and his family.
In her only interview about Rio yet, she told The Sun: “I’m taking a step back from the public eye, I want to keep my life private as I lived my previous relationship on TOWIE.
“My priority right now is Rio and the family.”
Best of luck guys!