RIO and Kate Ferdinand are pregnant with their first baby together – and revealed the heartwarming moment they told the kids.
The baby was conceived during lockdown, with ex-footie star Rio, 41, and wife Kate, 29, indoors since March.
Kate, who has suffered early bouts of morning sickness, secretly filmed the moment they told Lorenz, 13, Tate, 11, and nine-year-old Tia – Rio’s kids with late wife Rebecca.
The kids screamed and jumped up and down with excitement as they were told they’re getting a new brother or sister.
In the video the kids don’t realise they’re on camera while leafing through a family photo album.
On it is written: “Now for the next chapter, guess what?” – before Kate says: “I’m pregnant.”
As the children jump around in shock, Kate stands up to show off her small bump and says: “Have you not noticed guys?”
The three children couldn’t believe it. Tia started chanting: “Sister, sister,” while the boys were in shock and kept asking: “Are you actually?”
Kate captioned the sweet video: “The crazy house is about to get a little bit crazier… every time I watch this it makes me cry, the best reaction. Baby Ferdy we are all so excited to meet you.”
Posting to his 4.3million Instagram followers, Rio said: We got our wish, another Ferdinand en route!!
“@xkateferdinand I can’t wait to go through this whole pregnancy together and then bring our little human into this world. The reaction though.”
A source said: “Rio and Kate are delighted and wanted Rio’s kids to be the first to find out.
“They love having Kate as a stepmum but for her to have a child with their dad is incredibly exciting.”
Kate coyly told earlier this month how her stepchildren outlined a timetable when she and their Dad would give them another sibling.
And now their wait is nearly over, with a pal telling The Sun: “Everyone is deliriously happy.
“Kate’s pregnancy has made everyone beam with joy.
“She’s had a rough few weeks, but couldn’t be happier. She always wanted her own children with Rio, and to grow his existing family. Everyone is so excited.”
Pregnancy was the dream scenario for Kate, 29, after she fell for former England captain Rio three years ago.
She endured a tough spell after moving in to the family home and gingerly trying to pick up the pieces following Rebecca’s tragic death in 2015.
The bumpy ride was documented in the couple’s BBC1 documentary Rio And Kate: Becoming A Stepfamily.
It was the sequel to Rio’s 2017 BAFTA-winning film Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum And Dad, which documented a family in mourning.
At the Ferdinand’s Kent mansion, walls were adorned with family photos featuring Rebecca, who died from breast cancer aged just 34.
Supporting the children and Rio, 41, through grief required professional support from counsellors and children’s bereavement charity Grief Encounter.
The family faced a double blow when Rio’s mum Janice passed away suddenly in 2017, aged 58.
Kate opened up about having therapy to tackle anxiety and body dysmorphia.
She said about having kids of her own: “We would like to have a baby but there’s no set time.
“Where is the love life?! We’re getting a little bit of time here and there, but I wouldn’t call it couple time.
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“We’re busy, our time together might be talking about cleaning the toilet, rather than ‘Oh, I love you so much!’.”
Ex-Manchester United legend Rio, who boasts a £60million fortune, has been helping Kate home-school the kids during coronavirus lockdown.
Kate said of her role as stepmum: “I wouldn’t change it for the world because I’ve got Rio and three kids that I love.”
She married BT Sport footie pundit Rio in Turkey last September in front of a huge gathering of friends and family.
Treasured family photos of Rebecca are in a room dedicated especially to her, and Kate said of Rio’s first wife: “I truly believe, in my heart of hearts, that Rebecca would be happy with the love I’m giving to her children.”
Now Kate is looking forward to adding to their family with kids of her own.