Hugh Bonneville and Longtime Wife Lulu Williams Call it Quits After a Quarter Century Together - The Shocking Truth Behind Their Sudden Split!

Hugh Bonneville and Lulu Williams. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Downton Abbey alum Hugh Bonneville and his wife Lulu Williams have officially called it quits. On Sunday, October 1, a representative for the actor confirmed their separation, stating, "I can confirm that Hugh Bonneville and Lulu Williams have separated." The spokesperson for Bonneville has been approached for further comments.

Just a week after attending Downton costar Michelle Dockery's wedding, news broke of his separation. At the star-studded London ceremony on September 23, Dockery, 41, married Jasper Waller-Bridge, but Bonneville, 59, was conspicuously alone, lacking both a date and his own wedding band. Bonneville and Williams had been married since November 1998 and have a 20-year-old son named Felix.

“Lulu has always been a pillar of support for Felix and me, and I am forever grateful to her,” Bonneville shared with the Daily Mail in 2011. “We had been searching for Felix for a long time, and we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have him.”

Before becoming parents, Williams and the actor from Paddington actually knew each other as children. They lost touch over the years until Bonneville’s mother helped them reconnect. “Lulu was running a marquee company...my mom called her to rent some chairs or something, and she said, ‘Do you remember Hugh?’ and that’s how we got back in touch,” he explained on BBC Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs” in 2016. “It did frustrate me that I had to give my mom all the credit for reintroducing us.”

After reconnecting, Bonneville soon realized the incredible bond they shared. "While I had previous girlfriends, the idea of settling down never crossed my mind," Bonneville expressed to the Daily Mail. "But then you meet someone and instantly know, 'This is the one I want to be with.'"

Furthermore, he emphasized, "Having a shared history really strengthens our commitment, especially when we're in it for the long run."

Williams replied, stating that she was not affected by Bonneville's rising fame. She stated in an October 2012 interview with the Daily Mail that she doesn't notice women fawning over him, despite the fact that it is a topic of conversation. Williams emphasized that she and Bonneville have known each other since their teenage years and have a long history together. She mentioned that they are not impressed by the glamour of the entertainment industry and are simply down-to-earth individuals who do not frequently attend celebrity parties.

According to reports, the couple celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2018 by renewing their vows at the famous Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas.

They last went on a public outing together in April at The Tomorrow Gala for the Old Vic in London.