Back  |  Email to a Friend  |  Print  |   Send in Your Comment

Charlotte's proposal hopes dashed again

When Gavin Henson arranged a surprise meal for girlfriend Charlotte Church and their families last week, she couldn’t help but get her hopes up that he was finally going to propose.

Relatives felt so confident rugby star Gav was going to get down on one knee, they even dressed up in glam outfits.

But despite inviting their family, Gavin didn’t pop the question, leaving Charlotte, 23, to bitterly drown her sorrows.

A source says: “Charlotte’s trying to act cool about it but she’s just desperate to be a bride.

“To make it worse, Charlotte’s gran blurted out at the table, ‘So when’s he going to propose then?’ which made everyone feel pretty awkward.

“Maria’s just as disappointed and Gav’s really upsetting Charl. But since she’s getting so many questions from everyone about marriage, she’s trying to put on a brave face.”

Charlotte’s admitted wanting to marry Gavin for years. In 2007, she said in an interview: “If Gavin got me an engagement ring, I’d definitely say yes.”

And Closer can reveal that stubborn Gav’s surprise dinner has backfired, as he’s now feeling more pressure than ever to marry Charlotte, who he met almost five years ago.

“He’s hating it,” the source adds. “He’s asked his dad, ‘Why am I being nagged to propose? I’m not going anywhere!’ But after two kids, Charlotte wants him to walk her down the aisle.”

The meal – at the posh Vale of Glamorgan Hotel in Wales last Tuesday – was set up by Gavin as a thank you to family for their recent support since an injury put his rugby career on hold.

But rumours soon spread that he’d take the opportunity to propose. He even arranged a babysitter for the couple’s two kids, Ruby, two, and Dexter, 10 months.

Unusually, Gav, 27, didn’t drink, unlike Charlotte, who is said to have left Gavin’s family unimpressed with her boozy antics as the reality Gav wasn’t going to propose sank in.

“Alan, Gavin’s dad, wasn’t happy with Charl’s drinking and bad language,” our insider adds. “He believes she’s becoming a bad influence on Gavin as she seems to be reverting into a party girl.

As Gav’s injured, he’s been spending less time with the rugby crowd and more with her.

“She wants to be seen as more rock ’n’ roll, and they’ve enjoyed some big nights out together. Charl’s also been training with Gavin and she loves spending more time with her man.”

But newly slim Charl’s mission to be seen as cool again on the party scene is causing her heartache.

Her mum and Gav’s parents have spoken to her about her renewed smoking habit and her increasing boozy nights out – and some locals have turned on her.

A source says: “A girl turned to Charlotte in a local pub recently and said: ‘Gavin has no intention of marrying you.’

Despite her weight loss, another girl poked fun at Charl’s stomach, saying, ‘Still battling the baby bulge then?’ Charlotte spent the night being comforted by a friend in the loo, while Gav kept drinking.”

Gavin was later banned from the pub – The Roof, in Bridgend, Wales – after he lost his temper.

The source adds: “He’s been barred from so many places in Bridgend, there are only about two he can go in.”

By Laura Holland