Susannah Constantine - Personal Life

Personal Life

Constantine grew up in an old priory in the Leicestershire village of Knipton and went hunting from the age of seven. She had a close relationship with her father, Joseph Constantine, who was successful in the property and shipping sectors, was an Old Etonian pupil and served in the Coldstream Guards. When she was young, Constantine would rely on her father for fashion advice and has commented that any style that she has, she learned from him. He was a talented artist and was offered worldwide art exhibitions, although he was too modest to accept. His death came suddenly and was a milestone for Constantine.

Constantine became a fixture in 1980s British gossip columns and newspapers as the result of her relationship with Princess Margaret's son, David, Viscount Linley which lasted for eight years. Princess Margaret thought highly of Constantine and even called her "my daughter-in-law". Constantine admitted that her relationship with Linley undeniably opened doors for her, but after they broke up, she was keen to put the episode behind her and become well known in her own right. She has also had a relationship with Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan, but she is now married to Danish entrepreneur and businessman Sten Bertelsen, who launched Death cigarettes, and with whom she has three children; Joe, Esme and CeCe. Lulu is godmother to one of her children, and she has also said "All my children have gay godfathers. I just love all gay men." Constantine and her family have recently bought a 120-acre (0.49 km2) property in Sussex. Constantine is estimated to be worth £5 million.

After having her first child, Constantine suffered from severe postnatal depression and panic attacks. Upon discovering that she was pregnant for a third time, as well as being overcome with delight, she felt despair as it came at a time when best friend Trinny Woodall was struggling to conceive and undergoing IVF treatment. In an interview Constantine said that she "couldn't bear to tell her." A short time later however, Woodall became pregnant.

Constantine has spoken of the pressure to look good in public but affirms "We're as much in the business of dressing ourselves - but more importantly helping other women to do that." Constantine has admitted to a fear of growing older: "I just don't want to get old. Old women are invisible, and I don't want to be invisible," she has said.

In 2002, while on a visit to the Cannes film festival, Constantine and Woodall were the victims of gem thieves. The thieves broke into the villa on the French Riviera where they were staying, rendered Constantine and Woodall unconscious with chloroform, and then continued to steal money and jewellery. Carol Vorderman was involved in a feud with Constantine and Woodall in 2003. Vorderman commented harshly about the double-act, after they had called her an "overdone Eighties nightmare" and named Vorderman in their list of the 20 worst-dressed celebrities.