At 78, Lord Maurice Saatchi is embracing love once again, igniting interest as he announces his relationship with fellow widow, Lynn Forester de Rothschild. This unexpected romance follows years of heartache after the passing of his beloved wife, novelist Josephine Hart, who succumbed to cancer back in 2011.
For over ten years, Saatchi lived under the shadow of grief, admitting to The Times just two years ago, "I thought my life was over" after losing Hart, with whom he shared 27 years of marriage. The event was not just personal; it transformed his West Sussex home, which he turned, somewhat like a shrine, honoring his late wife.
Come 2022, when Sir Evelyn de Rothschild passed away, the stage was subtly set for Saatchi and Forester to reconnect. Their friendship dates back to 25 years prior when both were married couples who often participated together in holidays and group dinners with their spouses. "We were often a four. We’d go on holiday together, have dinners. Then Josephine died, followed by Evelyn. We went from four to three to two," Saatchi recalled, acknowledging the intertwined nature of their histories.
Initially, their relationship remained affable and entirely platonic after their spouses' deaths. This, according to Saatchi, persisted until one night at Harry's Bar, an evening where friendship metamorphosed swiftly to love. "We were just friends. It never occurred to me or her, never," he noted surprised at the shift. “It was like everything changed in the eyes. I know the exact moment we flipped.”
The very moment he recognized his feelings was shocking – it was as though he had awakened to something long dormant. Describing Lynn as "formidable" and "fascinating," he now sees the potential for their relationship not just to blossom, but to be meaningful and shared.
When expressing his late wife's likely sentiment toward this new chapter, he shared his thoughts during another meal with friends. "I said I believed if Evelyn and Josephine were looking down now, they would say, ‘This is good.’” Saatchi continues, lamenting the brevity of life and the elements of the human experience where misstep and laughter intermingle as Geldof interjected, "Self-serving bullshit." Breaking the solemnity, laughter filled the room - truly, the feeling about the past is hard to measure.
This newfound bond stems from school of shared sorrow and connection over lost loves. "There is a practical benefit," Saatchi stated, indicating their companionship is reinforced through discussions about their late spouses, ensuring neither feels threatened by memories. "I can say, ‘Josephine was brilliant,’ and she can say, ‘Evelyn was wonderful.’” Their uniquely shared understandings culminate not just as prized memories but as comfort and love forged anew.
From mourning to romance, Saatchi's story transcends his own personal grief, carrying with it the gentle reminder of life's possibilities even when it seems all hope is lost. The narrative doesn’t play out like one of those conventional rom-coms. Instead, it offers shades of genuineness and complex life experiences filled with resilience and healing.
Lord Saatchi's reluctance to date, especially after iconic moments of tragedy, showcases the depths of human emotion. Still, as he begins this chapter with Lynn Forester de Rothschild, who herself is 70 years old and steeped deeply within philanthropic ventures including being past director of The Economist Group, their romance is learning to thrive against what they once endured.
Reflecting on their blossoming relationship, it is gently filled with the wisdom of years but is overshadowed by lost loves, fragmentation, and new beginnings. Saatchi's story invites other seniors and those bereaved to rethink love and companionship after loss, reflecting resilience as they traverse through life’s winding paths.
They now find joy together, not as mere reminders of their late loved ones but as partners carving their next stages of life, hopeful of the connections earned through shared experience and healed hearts. With their unfurling connection, this affectionate bond illuminates the beauty of second chances, whispered glances, and all the joyous moments still waiting to be discovered.