Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster Celebrate 18 Years of Marriage with Romantic Train Ride from Paris to Italy

On June 19, 2024, Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster marked their 18th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip from Paris to Italy by train, taking a ride on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The couple shared a snap of themselves outside the train, as they embarked on their journey from where they got engaged to where they tied the knot 18 years ago.

In a joint post on Instagram, Lancaster wrote, "Entering a bygone era @vsoetrain from Paris where we got engaged to Portofino where we got married 18 years ago, it’s totally magical @sirrodstewart xxxx." The photo showed the couple smiling as Lancaster wrapped an arm around her husband's shoulders. Stewart stood out in a hot pink jacket over a white outfit, which also featured a hint of his signature leopard print, while his wife wore a pink shirt with a peach design and a matching skirt.

The couple tied the knot in Portofino in 2007, with a ceremony at a medieval abbey at La Cervara with 100 family and friends. They then had a reception by the coast of Santa Margherita with dinner, dancing, and fireworks.

Stewart recently shut down claims that there was a rift in their marriage last August, stating that there is "absolutely no rift between Penny and I and no disagreement over where we should reside." He added that they moved permanently back to Britain a year ago but still have homes in different countries.

The couple first met in 1999 after Stewart separated from his ex-wife Rachel Hunter. Stewart told PEOPLE in 2021 that he met Lancaster at the Dorchester Hotel in London, six months after he separated from Hunter. "She has mended my heart in more ways than one," he said.

While Stewart shares sons Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14, with Lancaster, he's also father to Sarah, 61, Kimberly, 45, Sean, 44, Ruby, 38, Renee, 33, and Liam, 30, from previous relationships.

The couple's love story is truly magical and their anniversary trip is a testament to their enduring love and commitment to each other. The romantic train journey from Paris to Portofino is a reminder of the magic they shared on their special day 18 years ago and the continued love they have for each other.