ANGELINA MOVES THE KIDS TO THE UK
SHE’S BEEN AN OSCAR WINNER, a UN Special Envoy and an unlikely friend to William Hague. Now Angelina Jolie has a new role: suburban yummy mummy.
According to sources, the actor is planning to relocate to south-west London with her six children – Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne – just two months after she shockingly filed for divorce from Brad Pitt following 12 years together.
Angelina, who has told friends she wants to be moved in by Christmas, has apparently been focusing on properties in Richmond as well as nearby Twickenham. She and Brad previously rented a £14,000-a-month eight-bedroom mansion in the area, while he filmed the sequel to World War Z earlier this year.
‘As far as Angelina is concerned, Britain is the ideal base for her now,’ said one insider. ‘It’s the best place for her to advance her career and she wants to move as soon as possible.’ Angelina’s fully committed to her humanitarian work and she’s continuing to work alongside William Hague to raise awareness of sexual conflict in war zones. She’s also been appointed visiting professor at the London School of Economics – where she will teach a masters in gender and human rights from next year – so it makes sense for her to be here.
‘It’s all part of the reason why Brad and Angelina didn’t last. She felt they were on separate paths and, while he continues to be very much part of the Hollywood machine, her interests lie elsewhere.’
But Grazia understands Angelina’s decision to move the children abroad has left Brad heartbroken, following persistent reports the couple are locked in a private ‘war’ over the future of their brood.
Angelina has already requested full physical custody of the kids, while Brad – who has only seen them under the supervision of a therapist since the split – has launched a bid to be granted joint custody, despite fending off claims that call his parenting into question and even accusations of child abuse. Last week, it was reported that the Department of Child Services had expanded its investigation into abuse allegations and were interviewing the whole family, including Angelina.
‘When Brad realised Angelina was intending to move to Britain, he was beside himself,’ one source told Grazia. ‘His biggest fear is losing the kids, and he’s said that he no longer recognises the woman that he married.
‘While they were together, he’d never have dreamed that Angelina would do something like this. But ever since she blindsided him by asking for a divorce, all bets are off.
‘Angelina can be sure that Brad will fight her every step of the way on this. He just wants what he thinks is fair, and that is for them to share physical custody of the children. The battle isn’t over yet.’