By Andrea Magrath


'It was a military operation': Christine Bleakley and new fiancé Frank Lampard step out for dinner to celebrate their engagement in Beverly Hills


Christine Bleakley says she and new fiancé Frank Lampard feel like they are in their own little bubble following his proposal in Los Angeles.

But the TV presenter managed to break herself away to call her Daybreak colleagues Adrian Chiles and Kate Garraway this morning to reveal all the details of the Chelsea footballer's romantic proposal.

Speaking from the bathroom of a Beverly Hills restaurant where she and Frank were celebrating the engagement, Christine, 32, revealed that she 'cried for about ten minutes' when he popped the question over lunch.


Christine told how Frank, also 32, became 'a bit lovey-dovey' leading up to his proposal during a beachside lunch in Los Angeles.

'And it wasn’t very glamorous, it wasn’t very fancy – I know maybe some people might expect that,' she said.

'It was very personal, very private actually, and we were just having a gorgeous lunch by the beach and he simply popped the question, it was completely out of the blue.

'He started to build up to it and he got a little bit lovey-dovey. And half-way through the lovey-dovey bit, I realised what he was about to do so I started to cry.

'I started to cry for about ten minutes and then he pulled the ring out and said "Will you marry me?” and that was it!'

'I swear I’m so giggly and it sounds so ridiculous because it’s obviously just the two of us over here at the minute and we kind of feel l like we’re on cloud nine, off in our own little bubble.

'It’s all a bit odd and we can’t wait to get home to be honest and see everybody, but it just feels a bit surreal to be honest.'

Phone home: The ecstatic TV presenter phoned in to Daybreak from the restaurant bathroom to tell colleagues Adrian Chiles and Kate Garraway all about her engagement


Miss Bleakley told how Frank spoke to her parents before popping the question. 'He phoned my parents, he’s spoken to my mum and dad beforehand, so he’d done the very right thing,' she said.

'So they were very happy and yes, my family are over the moon. We all are, we’re all a bit shocked and surprised but really quite ecstatic.'

'He had it all organised and funny enough, because I’m such a nosey cow, he thought if he brought the ring over that I would find it in the suitcase. So his best friend, or one of his best mates who works out here, he flew out with the ring in advance.

'It was like a military operation to make sure I got the ring without me ever having seen it previous to that. So it was all organised about three months leading up to this day. Unbelievable!'

Adrian Chiles joked: 'He’s quite the gentleman, it’s like something from Jane Austin or something. What about the ring, because they have got some nice stuff in that Chelsea Megastore? They’ve got some nice jewellery in there.'

On cloud nine: The couple's happiness was clear to see following the proposal, with Christine saying that 'it all feels a bit surreal'


While her co-host Adrian Chiles bemoaned the Daybreak studio 'becoming a nightmare' with wedding planning, Bleakley assured him that no wedding plans are being made just yet.

'It’s so funny though because everyone says “When’s the big day?” I can assure everybody it won’t be any time relatively soon, we’re just going to enjoy this period,' she said.

'But it’s all a bit crazy but it’s so lovely and I have to say thank you so much to everyone for their messages. I’ve had so many messages on my phone and it means so much to the both of us and it’s incredibly kind of people and we can’t quite believe the response that there’s been so far.

'Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts because we’re still in our own little bubble, reality hasn’t quite hit.

Before dining out in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night, the happy couple were pictured grinning widely as they shopped at the Century City Mall in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, shortly after the footballer popped the question.

Looking casual as they strolled through the shops, Miss Bleakley's engagement finger was noticeably bare - but the sparkler was firmly in place later when the couple dined out.

'He got a bit lovey-dovey': Frank's affectionate behaviour this week in Las Vegas did not go unnoticed by the UK media, and Christine now admits he did shower her with love in the lead up to the proposal


Cryptic: Frank's ex Elen Rivas posted on Twitter: ''Honesty is only possible when we check our conscience and remain true to our highest values'

The footballer's agent Steve Kutner today said: 'I am pleased to say that Christine Bleakley has accepted Frank Lampard's surprise engagement proposal here in LA.'

He added: 'They are obviously both delighted but there are no immediate wedding plans, and the couple will not be making any further comment on this happy and private occasion.'

Leading the congratulations were Bleakley's Daybreak colleague Kate Garraway, who praised Lampard with 'the boy done good', and fellow breakfast show presenter Lorraine Kelly.

Lampard's former fiancée and partner of seven years Elen Rivas posted a cryptic message on Twitter this morning. She wrote: 'Honesty is only possible when we check our conscience and remain true to our highest values.'

Frank's proposal contradicts reports last month that Lampard was planning a romantic proposal on board one of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's luxury yachts.

A source had said: 'Frank intends to propose in the most romantic way possible. He's got it all planned out. He will spend most of June away with Christine and by the time he and Christine are back in London, they will be engaged.'

Earlier this week Christine,and Frank, who have been dating for 20 months, were spotted acting extremely affectionate to one another during their holiday in Las Vegas.

The couple were pictured last week kissing and cuddling as they made the most of their romantic holiday as they lazed around the pool.

Miss Bleakley couldn't resist pulling in her beau for a series of kisses as they basked in the sunshine before taking a dip in the water showing off her incredible bikini body.

And the feeling was most definitely mutual, as Lampard cheekily kept grabbing his girlfriend's pert posterior as they relaxed at their hotel.

Christine has made no secret of her wish to start a family and speaking on Daybreak earlier this year she said: ‘For me, I’m 31, I don’t have babies. And for me, having children is the biggest and most important thing I’m ever going to do in my life.’

‘It’s not about my career, it’s not about your job or anything else, it’s about that.’

Celebration: Bleakley's ITV colleagues Lorraine Kelly and Kate Garraway sent their congratulations on Twitter


Speaking to the Daily Mail in May Christine quashed rumours that the Chelsea star might have proposed and said: 'People keep asking when he’s going to ask me to marry him. But I’m the last person who should know that,’ she says. ‘We went to Paris for two days a few weeks ago and suddenly it was, “Look, they’re ring shopping.” No, we weren’t and he certainly hasn’t asked.

‘We’ve only been seeing each other a year and a half, which isn’t long enough for me. There are his children to think about, too.'

Frank and Christine met at the Pride of Britain Awards in 2009 after being introduced by Piers Morgan and England cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

Pucker up: The couple's love for each other is clear as they kissed and cuddled in the hotel pool last week

'It's surreal': Christine says the couple are on cloud nine and in their 'own little bubble'


Speaking about their meeting she said:‘They strolled up to me and said, “Someone wants to meet you”, and Frank appeared.

The footballer has two children with his ex-fiancée Elen Rivas, Luna, five and Isla, four.

Frank split from the Spanish model in November 2008 after seven years together.

This is the second engagement for Bleakley - she was previously engaged to Dublin restaurant owner Christian Stokes in 2004.


source:dailymail