£130million divorce of the Jigsaw fashion chain bosses
WITH a fashion empire, combined wealth of £130million and starring role in Prince William and Kate’s love story, John and Belle Robinson seemed to have assembled the perfect life.
But the founders of the Jigsaw clothing chain have decided that their marriage is no longer the perfect fit – and are set to divorce today.
More than 20 years after their relationship began, Mrs Robinson, 50, and her 67-year- old husband will formalise their separation with a ‘quickie’ divorce hearing at London’s High Court.
The pair, who have three children together, count the Middleton family among their close friends, and their instrumental role in the royal courtship began when they hired Kate to work at their head office in 2006. They regularly gave their young employee the use of their luxurious villa on Mustique in the Caribbean for private romantic holidays with the prince.
Today, District Judge Aitken is expected to accept that their marriage has irretrievably broken down and grant the couple a decree nisi at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The couple will then wait for a decree absolute, usually issued six weeks and a day later, ending their marriage. Neither Mr or Mrs Robinson or their legal representatives are expected to attend the hearing.
Mrs Robinson is understood to have spent much of her time recently at the pair’s £3million flat in Chelsea, while Mr Robinson has been based at their £5million manor house in Chippenham, Wiltshire. The couple’s wealth has been estimated by the Sunday Times Rich List at £130million.
They built Jigsaw into a thriving success story, with 60 shops in Britain and others in America and Australia.
When she revealed a year ago that they were separated, Mrs Robinson said: ‘It’s not something I wanted, but we seem to have drifted apart.’
Last night neither Mr or Mrs Robinson was available for comment.