In an exclusive interview and photoshoot with HELLO! magazine, Tamara Ecclestone revealed that she is finally ready to have another baby. Posing with her and husband Jay Rutland's four-year-old daughter Sophia – known as Fifi – Tamara revealed the little girl has been asking to be a big sister.
"She's been talking about how much she wants a sibling, and for the first time I'm open to the idea," Tamara told HELLO! "She really wants a sister, but certainly not a brother. She's very girlie and thinks boys are smelly.
"Having another baby is obviously scary because it would mean a big change, but I'm definitely up for it."
MORE: Tamara Ecclestone opens up about her daughter Fifi's first day at school
With plans for the patter of more tiny feet on the horizon, the eldest daughter of billionaire former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has another happy family occasion to look forward to: the wedding of her 30-year-old sister Petra. On New Year’s Eve, mother of three Petra – who divorced businessman James Stunt in 2017 after a six-year marriage – announced her engagement to classic car dealer and art gallery director Sam Palmer. The couple now share Petra’s palatial Beverly Hills mansion, which once belonged to TV mogul Aaron Spelling and which she listed last year with a price tag of $175m (£135m). It was, Tamara recalled, she and husband Jay – a close friend of Petra’s fiancé – who inadvertently played Cupid. "We hadn’t planned an introduction," she said. "About a year ago, Jay and I were in LA when Sam came to visit, but we never dreamt of anything romantic happening between him and Petra. None of us thought it would be a match made in heaven, or a match at all to be honest, so we were shocked when it happened – but the best things in life are often unexpected. I’m so pleased for Petra – she deserves all the happiness in the world."
Petra and Tamara remain close
The sisters have planned another reunion in Los Angeles later this month, bringing together Fifi and her cousins: Lavinia, who turns six this month, and three-year-old twins Andrew and James. "We can't wait," said Tamara. "Fifi misses her cousins so much. She and Lavinia love singing and dancing and putting on shows for us, re-enacting The Greatest Showman and Frozen. It reminds me of when Petra and I were little and we acted out the musical Annie. Fifi's the bossy one, like I was, and choreographs it while we watch."
READ MORE: Tamara Ecclestone reveals she has stopped breastfeeding her four-year-old daughter
"I really miss Petra," she continued. "Selfishly, 'd like her to come back to the UK, but she’s very happy in LA and I want her to be happy." Just before Christmas, Tamara organised a lavish 1980s-themed 30th birthday party for Petra, with a surprise performance by pop icon Cyndi Lauper. "It was amazing," said Tamara. "I came as Madonna and Petra dressed in neon coloured Lycra." With another celebration coming up – Valentine’s Day – Fifi has included her aunt and cousins on her "love list" of Valentine's cards. "She's made them for Petra and Lavinia, as well as for me and Jay, which is really sweet," said Tamara. "Fifi is so creative and artistic," she continued. "I stick everything she's made for me on the wall in my bedroom – I’m running out of space. She loves drawing, which she gets from my dad. He used to help me with my art homework when I was at school."
Fifi turned 5 on the 17th March
The Valentine in Tamara's life is husband Jay, 37, who asked her to marry him in February 2013, a month after they met. The couple were planning a romantic dinner for two on the evening of Valentine's Day and, judging by his previous form, Jay is sure to have a spectacular surprise in store. "One year he organised for a chef to come to the house and prepare my favourite food – pizza, pasta and chocolate mousse," said Tamara, who offered fans a glimpse into their glamorous lives in the reality ITVBe series Tamara's World.
"And when I was pregnant with Fifi he whisked me off to Paris. To be honest, I'd be happy with a nice card with something lovely written inside. He's very imaginative and thinks of special things which aren't materialistic but mean the most to me – such as the DVD he made of special moments in our lives and draping a balloon with messages containing all the reasons why he loves me. Jay's very romantic – a keeper." The night before Valentine's Day, Tamara has a treat in store for her closest friends, too – a sumptuous "Gal- entine's" dinner featuring delicious food, flowers and chocolates. "The occasion isn’t just about romantic love – I have some amazing friendships I want to celebrate."
Tamara and Jay married in 2013
The next big landmark is Fifi's fifth birthday on 17 March, and according to her mother, the tot is growing up fast. "She['s four going on 14," Tamara laughed. "Fifi has a strong character and I love that. I think it's so important for a little girl to grow up knowing her own mind. She's quite bossy and tells me: 'I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up, Mummy.' "She loves school," continued Tamara. "In the beginning it was a bit of a transition, but now she has so many friends. Her favourite subjects are art and French. The other day I asked how her day was and she replied: 'Comme ci, comme ça.'" One powerful lesson Tamara would like Fifi to learn is the importance of kindness, which is why she is supporting HELLO!s #HelloToKindness campaign. "It costs nothing to be kind," she said. "Smiling at a stranger or saying hello could make someone's day. We should all be kinder to each other and be the change we want to see in the world. "When life gets really busy, we forget to tell people how we feel about them. We should tell our nearest and dearest every day that we love them."
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