Tamara: I live in just four of my 57 rooms
REVEALED: Once-wild heiress now snubs parties – and ‘lives in leggings’ She wasn’t upset by kidnap of Bernie’s mother-in-law And still breastfeeds her 21/2 -year-old daughter
HER £70 million mansion in the shadow of Kensington Palace has 57 rooms, many glittering with sumptuous designer items – including a £1million crystal bath tub, stunning chandeliers and works of art by Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.
But, though she has dozens to choose from, Tamara Ecclestone reveals in an exclusive interview with today’s You magazine that she only really uses just four of the rooms in her vast London home.
In fact, the Formula One heiress visits some so infrequently she can barely recall what they look like.
‘There are definitely rooms I haven’t been in in ages,’ she admits.
‘I don’t use the swimming pool and I haven’t been in the bowling alley for a very long time. I generally just use four rooms. But I like to have the space for when people come round.’
Born into a life of luxury as daughter of billionaire F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Tamara, 32, used to play out her life at society events and upmarket parties.
But she has undergone something of a transformation – admitting that these days she prefers comfortable stretch pants to haute couture, and hasn’t worn heels for years.
‘People think I am always walking around in designer dresses. I was, but I’m not any more,’ she explains.
‘I don’t miss it – the dresses, the eye lashes, the shoes. I’m a mother now and I live in leggings. I never go to parties. I’m asleep by ten.’
When Tamara – who is married to Essex-born City trader Jay Rutland, 35 – gave birth to daughter Sophia two-and-a-half years ago, she waved goodbye to her bling-filled world and embraced motherhood with gusto.
She was criticised on social media when she posted a ‘brelfie’ picture of her breastfeeding her toddler daughter. But she defiantly says: ‘Yes, I’m still breastfeeding.
‘It bugs me that people attack me for it. It’s the best thing my daughter can have.
‘I don’t judge anyone, but I am constantly judged. I don’t bother to respond. I’m happy, my daughter is happy and that’s all I care about.’
Tamara doesn’t employ a nanny, saying she likes to spend all her time with Sophia, known as Fifi, who even sleeps in her parents’ bed.
Her constant companion is sister Petra, 27, who has three children.
‘We see each other every day. We spend all day with our kids. We don’t really mix with other mums as most of the other children are with nannies. Petra is like me, she hardly ever goes out. We are both obsessed with our children.’
Tamara’s fantasy life collided with the real world in February when Jay was charged with assisting a drug dealer to escape the country. He was cleared in court, but there was speculation that they had separated, amid claims Bernie had told his daughter to cut all ties with Jay.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the aftermath of the case, Tamara says: ‘It was awful. I chose not to talk about it because it was so difficult. I knew everyone wanted me to fail, that people were saying they knew we wouldn’t last.
‘A marriage is not smooth sailing, but I am a grown-up and I know what I’m doing. I believe you have to make a marriage work.’
Tamara’s mother is Croatian model Slavica Radic, 85-year-old Bernie’s first wife. He is now married to Brazilian Fabiana Flosi, 38 – and this summer kidnappers in Brazil threatened to behead Fabiana’s mother unless Bernie paid £28million. He refused and his mother-in-law was found unharmed nine days later.
The kidnapping, however, caused Tamara few sleepless nights. Was she concerned about it? ‘No,’ she says curtly, making it clear her father’s new wife is not someone she is keen to talk about.
‘All it did was make me think of my daughter’s safety,’ she adds.
‘Even when we go to the park we have security. I have someone with me all the time.’
Neither she nor her sister attended her father’s wedding to Fabiana.
Tamara was deeply hurt by her parents’ divorce in 2009 after 24 years. It was, she says, ‘the darkest period of my life’.
She adds: ‘Having money doesn’t stop you getting hurt. Being able to
‘I need space for when people come round’ ‘Having money doesn’t stop you getting hurt’
go out and buy a Birkin bag [she has a collection of 45] doesn’t make the pain go away.’
It may not heal suffering but Tamara is hoping to show that her high-end fashion can raise money for good causes.
She has selected 1,000 pieces from her extensive wardrobe to sell through fashion website HEWI (Hardly Ever Worn It) on behalf of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Among the items up for grabs will be a stunning pair of silver Alaia heels, a sleek black Balmain jumpsuit and a sexy pink lace-up dress by Ronny Kobo.
She says: ‘These are from my old life. I love them and still enjoy getting dressed up but I’d always rather be at home with Fifi.’