Rod's mate fate

Music

09:30 31 March 2005

Rod Stewart claims fate brought him and fiancée Penny Lancaster together.

The rock star - who is set to marry the long-limbed model later this year - says Penny entered his life the night he split from estranged wife Rachel Hunter.

Twice-wed Rod claims he knew immediately that Penny was 'The One'.

He told Britain's Night and Day magazine: "We met six years ago at a Christmas party at The Dorchester hotel in London. It was the night Rachel and I decided, or rather she decided, that we were breaking up.

"God must have meant it to happen. I was in that angry period. I thought we had it all going for us, Rachel and me.

"But I saw Penny on the dance floor. She's an extraordinarily good dancer. She was tormenting me."

However, the couple didn't date for six months because Rod was still devastated over his break-up with Rachel.

The 60-year-old singer, who is 26 years older than Penny, says she is the most loving woman he has ever met.

He added: "Penny is the most caring, nurturing and loving woman I've ever met in my life."

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