Hugo Taylor has spoken publicly for the first time about the breakdown of his marriage to Millie Mackintosh, revealing that the past year has brought him considerable sadness while expressing gratitude for their two daughters.
The former Made in Chelsea star, 40, shared a personal statement on Instagram Stories on Wednesday, eight months after the couple separated.
His comments came days after Millie, 37, confirmed her new romance with Matthew Tanner, 38, by making their relationship public on social media.
Taylor said he had previously chosen not to comment on the separation because he wanted to protect his family’s privacy and provide stability for their children during a period of major change.
Hugo Taylor Prioritises His Daughters Amid Marriage Breakdown
In his statement, Taylor acknowledged the emotional difficulty of the past year but emphasised his commitment to his daughters, Sienna, six, and Aurelia, four.
“I have refrained from making any personal public comment on the end of my marriage out of respect for our family’s privacy and the importance of maintaining stability for our daughters during a period of significant change,” he wrote.
He continued: “While the past year has brought considerable sadness, I remain grateful for what matters most in my life.”
The father-of-two added that his priority was to provide his daughters with the love, security and consistency they deserve.
He also thanked friends and family for their kindness and support, saying he was looking towards the future with faith and optimism.
The former couple’s daughters now divide their time between their parents’ separate homes.
Taylor Shares Cryptic Tolkien Quote After Millie’s New Romance
Before issuing his statement, Taylor shared a reflective quotation on Instagram that appeared shortly after news of his former wife’s new relationship emerged.
The quotation read: “All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost.
The old that is strong does not wither. Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
The words come from J.R.R. Tolkien’s poem featured in The Fellowship of the Ring.
The opening line reverses the familiar proverb that all that glitters is not gold, which cautions against judging something by its outward appearance.
Taylor did not explicitly connect the quotation to his separation or Mackintosh’s new relationship.
Millie Mackintosh Goes Public With Matthew Tanner
Mackintosh’s relationship with Tanner became public after the pair were photographed holding hands during a dog walk in Chelsea a fortnight ago.
The reality television personality subsequently attended the opening of Boodles’ flagship store on Old Bond Street with Tanner last Thursday.
The couple were seen browsing diamonds at the event before Mackintosh made their relationship official on Instagram days later.
Tanner, who goes by Matty, works as a Global Solutions Director and Programme Director at Robert Walters Consultancy.
His social media presence reflects a strong interest in fitness, a passion he shares with Mackintosh.
He regularly posts photographs highlighting his physique and has pursued endurance sports since stepping away from amateur rugby in 2025 because of a knee injury.
His future sporting ambitions include training for the Barcelona Marathon in 2027, the London Backyard Ultra in the same year and the Marathon des Sables Ultra in Morocco in 2028.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Tanner studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University between 2008 and 2013, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences and Nutrition.
Mackintosh Joined Dating App Raya Before Meeting Tanner
It remains unclear how Mackintosh met her new boyfriend, although she joined the celebrity dating app Raya over the summer.
At the time, sources close to the television personality told the Daily Mail that she was not rushing into another relationship but was open to meeting people and enjoying herself.
On her profile, Mackintosh described herself as a creator, entrepreneur and author.
She selected Lizzo’s song About Damn Time as the track played when someone viewed her profile, while identifying emotional intelligence as a particularly attractive quality in a potential partner.
Her new relationship follows a lengthy and often turbulent romantic history that began in the public eye.
Taylor and Mackintosh’s Relationship Began on Made in Chelsea
The pair met while appearing on Made in Chelsea in 2011, with their early relationship becoming one of the reality show’s most memorable storylines.
Their romance famously unravelled when Mackintosh discovered that Taylor had cheated on her with her close friend and fellow cast member Rosie Fortescue.
In a scene that became one of the programme’s best-known moments, an angry Mackintosh confronted Taylor in a bar and threw a drink in his face.
The couple subsequently separated after around six months of dating.
Mackintosh left the show in 2013, with Taylor departing shortly afterwards.
Despite their difficult beginning, the pair eventually found their way back to each other after a five-year separation.
Millie Mackintosh Reconciled With Hugo After Her First Marriage
During their time apart, Mackintosh married rapper Professor Green, whose real name is Stephen Manderson.
Their divorce was finalised in 2016.
Mackintosh later described the relationship as toxic, explaining that both partners had been dealing with personal difficulties and had mistakenly believed they could resolve each other’s problems.
Following the end of that marriage, Mackintosh and Taylor rekindled their relationship in 2016, putting their earlier difficulties behind them.
They subsequently married and welcomed their two daughters, Sienna and Aurelia.
The couple also renovated a £5 million home in west London.
However, their marriage eventually came to an end.
The Daily Mail reported in February that the pair had quietly separated, and the former couple formally filed for divorce that month after seven years of marriage.
