Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster are desperately working on their 17-year marriage after the singer reneged on their plans to sell his $74 million Beverly Hills mansion and return full-time to the UK.
The veteran British rocker, 79, promised Lancaster, 53, they would pack up their lives in Los Angeles for their sprawling $5.8 million countryside estate in Harlow, Essex, after he revealed it was ‘time to leave’ the US last year.
But DailyMail.com has learned the pair are now at a ‘stalemate,’ with Stewart refusing to leave LA, and a furious Lancaster refusing to stay after he extended his Las Vegas residency and rejected two offers on the sprawling nine-bedroom property just over a month ago.
The news comes days after Lancaster – who has sons Alastair, 18, and Aiden, 13 with the Maggie May singer she married in 2007 – hinted at ‘family issues.’
‘Rod loves his life in LA and he flies back and forth to Vegas for his gigs,’ a well-placed insider said. ‘He gets to spend quality time with his grandchildren and hosts a banquet dinner almost every Sunday night at home for a crowd of his best friends.’
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster are at a ‘stalemate’ after the singer reneged on their plans to sell his $74 million Beverly Hills mansion and return full-time to the UK
Stewart, 79, extended his Las Vegas residency and rejected two offers on the sprawling nine-bedroom property (pictured) just over one month ago
Stewart revealed plans to relocate to his native UK in June 2023 when he listed his 33,000-square-foot Beverly Hills abode – which also includes a three-story guesthouse, swimming pool and a sizable soccer pitch for $70 million.
He then cranked up the asking price to $80 million in December, before slashing it by $6 million in February to leave a $74 million price tag.
But Stewart has since pulled the property from the market, leaving Lancaster – who is a regular on UK panel show Loose Women, works as a special constable for the City of London Police and considers the British countryside ‘home’ – fuming.
‘Penny has no plans to return to LA, which she’s not a fan of, while Rod has no plans to move back right now,’ the insider continued.
‘They’re at a stalemate and Penny is angry that Rod’s gone back on his word. It’s about saving their marriage right now.’
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Stewart and Lancaster for comment.
Stewart, who first moved to LA in 1975, paid $12 million for the land on which he built his yellow stately mansion in 1991 after roping in California architect to the stars Richard Landry.
The property boasts 12 bathrooms, a huge formal dining room for over 20 guests, a speakeasy, a movie theater, a wood-paneled library, a wine room, two gyms, an eat-in chef’s kitchen, a tearoom – and also currently houses his 1,500sq ft model railway.
A well placed insider told DailyMail.com: ‘They’re at a stalemate and Penny is angry that Rod’s gone back on his word. It’s about saving their marriage right now’
Stewart revealed plans to relocate to his native UK in June last year when he listed his 33,000-square-foot Beverly Hills abode for $70 million
He then cranked up the asking price to $80 million in December, before slashing it by $6 million in February and has now pulled it from the market
Other design highlights include French marble, Regency-period furnishings and ornate-ceilings.
Stewart confirmed his return to the UK last June, citing his sons’ education as one of the leading factors.
‘The chance of me selling is very, very slim because I really love it so unless I get the right price I won’t sell it,’ he told Chris Evans on Virgin Radio.
‘I love Los Angeles and the American people have been very good to me, but it’s time to leave. My two boys, [17] and 12, are going to school here [UK].’
The Grammy-winner planned to make his palatial Essex estate, known as Durrington House, his permanent residence. He and Lancaster purchased the 10-bedroom, 18th century property back in 2016.
Lancaster recently referred to the mansion as ‘home’ on Instagram where she posted a picture of herself posing in the sprawling 46 acres of land.
‘After a couple of crazy days and nights in central London, there’s nothing I like more than getting back out to the country and laying out on the cool grass on an early summers evening,’ she wrote.
‘Breathing in fresh air and the smell of the earth beneath me. Listening to the birds and watching the butterflies, dance about while being chased by my two devoted doggies. I’m at peace, I’m home.’
The former swimwear model met the front man back in 1999 when she performed as part of his band while he was still married to his second wife Rachel Hunter.
Lancaster is a regular on UK TV, works as a special constable for the City of London Police and considers the British countryside ‘home’ (pictured at their Essex estate)
Stewart confirmed his return to the UK last June, citing his sons’ Alastair and Aiden’s education as one of the leading factors (pictured with the wider family back in July)
Stewart and Lancaster purchased a sprawling Essex home – called Durrington House – for $5.8 million back in 2016
Hunter and Stewart separated that year and divorced in 2006. He had previously been married to Alana Stewart.
The chart-topper has eight children by five women – daughters Sarah Streeter, 59, Kimberly, 43, Ruby, 35, and Renee, 30, and sons Sean, 42, and Liam, 28, as well as Alastair and Aiden.
He also has three grandchildren, Delilah, 12, and Otis and Louie, both one.
Lancaster has been open about her marriage to Stewart and their secrets to maintaining a healthy relationship for nearly two decades.
But on Tuesday she alluded to ‘family issues’ while discussing the rift between the royal family and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Loose Women.
Asked if they should try to ‘fix’ it all, Lancaster replied: ‘For me, I’m not judging one way or the other – you know, do I like Harry, do I think this or that?
‘I’m looking at the broader picture really, just about the family. We all have family issues to bear from time to time.
‘I think it’s about possibly being able to mend some of those bridges, especially as there have been so many health scares within the family.’
The couple pictured at their home in the UK last year
Stewart’s refusal to up sticks follows the extension of his 13-year Las Vegas Residency. He was forced to cancel his 200th show earlier this month owing to illness
Stewart’s refusal to up sticks follows the extension of his 13-year Las Vegas Residency, The Hits, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
The Sailing singer announced The Encore Shows earlier this month, which will see him return to the iconic venue for 12 dates in March, May and June next year.
It comes after he cancelled two dates in the North American leg of his tour this month as well as his August 7 performance for his Las Vegas residency, which would have been the 200th show, due to strep throat.
Stewart, who has had both prostate and thyroid cancer, told The Sun in July: ‘I’m aware my days are numbered but I’ve got no fear. We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket.
‘I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can. I say few – probably another 15. I can do that easy mate, easy.’
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