They’ve been living in bliss with their baby daughter since her birth in March – and Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright recently shared a slew of adorable pictures of baby Palma on yet another family trip away.
However, after posting snaps of their stay at a luxury London hotel – where they cosied up in a £21k-a-night suite – followers began to question the number of trips away the couple have enjoyed since the arrival of their little one, especially as they’d only recently returned from a stay at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire.
One fan asked, ‘Have they actually been home since having the baby? They’ve had weekends away, a day trip and now another trip. You have a massive house. It’s almost like they can’t be left alone with their thoughts. Weird!’ Meanwhile, another posted, ‘Why would you have a holiday in London when you live 30 minutes away? Also just letting everyone know their house is empty… Will they ever learn?’
And an insider tells Closer that the couple’s trips away are a telling sign – as Michelle, 37, apparently still doesn’t feel ‘100% safe’ in their Essex mansion following a terrifying burglary earlier this year.
A source reports, ‘It was only a few months ago that Michelle and Mark were targeted by burglars at their home, which really shook them both up. Although there’s always difficulties involved in travelling with a newborn, Michelle has actually found it quite comforting because she doesn’t want to feel confined to their Essex mansion, especially after what happened. When she is at home, she’ll have her mother Jacqueline with her, or Mark’s mum Carol will be over. Michelle definitely doesn’t want to be alone there, which is sad as it’s their dream home, but she still doesn’t feel 100 per cent safe.’
In February, police were called to their luxurious Essex home after a group of balaclava-clad burglars forced their way in. Mark, 38, and his then-pregnant wife locked themselves in their bedroom until the police arrived, and the robbers fled empty-handed. Although the couple were physically unharmed, the ordeal has left a lasting mark.
And our insider says that trips away have provided a much-needed safe space for Mark and Michelle – who have been happily married for a decade after meeting in Dubai in 2012. The pair were often quizzed over when they would be starting a family before they announced Michelle’s pregnancy eight months ago. Now, they’ll do anything to take care of the daughter they waited so long for.
A source says, ‘If anything, Michelle feels safer when she’s on holiday with Palma as they can escape to secluded destinations where people don’t know their whereabouts. Even just getting away to a nice hotel in London has felt really good for Michelle as she feels totally safe being surrounded by other people in a bustling city rather than feeling alone and not knowing who might be hanging around.’
The insider continues, ‘Mark and Michelle are still in a total baby bubble with Palma and don’t ever want it to burst.
‘They know there’s a big interest in them as a celebrity power couple and now there’s a lot of interest in their first child together too, and they want to spend every waking hour with her. Michelle has always done things her own way and she’s ripping up the usual rulebook when it comes to motherhood. She loves the idea of travelling the world with her little one.’
Before becoming parents, Mark Wright – who was one of the original TOWIE cast members back in 2010 – and Michelle – who found fame on Coronation Street in 2008 – were regular globe trotters. Michelle frequently travelled for work, with her husband often flying out to visit her. Mark even relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 to host the American entertainment news programme, Extra. Although their lifestyle may have changed since welcoming Palma, they don’t want becoming parents to stop them from seeing the world.
An insider says, ‘Michelle doesn’t want to be home alone with the baby while her husband goes to work. That’s not the life she ever signed up for and Mark knows and respects that.’
Despite the backlash, they love taking their baby daughter away and are planning to jet off to Spain on their first foreign holiday as a family. However, it doesn’t stop friends and fans wondering if all this travelling so early in Palma’s life is wise.
The source says, ‘Some of her friends and family are a bit worried as all of this travelling is not quite the norm when it comes to early parenting, but they just want Michelle to be happy and to feel safe and secure. She definitely wants to explore more places and get away this summer as a family to a private villa in Spain.’