Ryan Giggs’ ex-wife Stacey is said to have given her blessing to his relationship with pregnant girlfriend Zara Charles, as the former Manchester United star prepares to become a father again.

Stacey Giggs, 44, divorced Ryan, 50, in 2017 after a decade of marriage, following revelations that he’d had an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri’s wife, Natasha. Despite the highly public and painful breakdown of their relationship, the former couple have managed to remain on good terms for the sake of their two children, son Zach and daughter Liberty, quietly co-parenting ever since.

Now, as Ryan and lingerie model Zara, 36, await the arrival of their first child together, insiders claim Stacey is supportive of the new chapter in his life. A source told The Sun that Stacey “approves of Zara” and has moved past the turmoil of their marriage.

“Her and Ryan have been through a lot but they have moved on and she’s only interested in him being happy, because that makes him a good dad to their kids. There is no animosity,” the insider said. Stacey is even said to have spent Christmas 2022 with Ryan and Zara as part of a “blended family.”

Stacey and Ryan’s divorce was finalized in 2017 after a £40 million High Court battle. At the time, their legal teams released a joint statement saying the pair had reached a financial settlement and wished to “leave this chapter of their lives as firm friends.” Despite the headlines around Ryan’s affairs, they made it clear they intended to remain united in co-parenting their children.

Ryan’s infidelity dominated the tabloids for years. His affair with Natasha reportedly began while Stacey was pregnant with their first child and continued for eight years. In 2010, just two weeks before Natasha married Rhodri, she is said to have fallen pregnant with Ryan’s child. She later had an abortion, with claims that Ryan delivered £500 in cash on his bicycle as a contribution to the cost. At the same time, he was also secretly involved with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, later spending around £150,000 on a super-injunction in an attempt to keep that relationship hidden.

Stacey, meanwhile, moved on with her own high-profile romance. In 2018, she began dating Max George from boyband The Wanted. The pair had known each other since 2011 after meeting at V Festival, and Max previously described Stacey as “the one.” However, their relationship ended in 2022 amid rumours he had grown close to Strictly Come Dancing co-star Maisie Smith during the show’s tour. Stacey allegedly felt betrayed and accused Max of cheating, later saying he had become “obsessed with fame.” Max went on to publicly confirm a relationship with Maisie shortly after the split.

Ryan, for his part, found stability with Zara. The couple began dating in 2021, and Zara has a daughter from a previous marriage. According to reports, Ryan was initially nervous about how his children would react to his new partner and the news of the pregnancy, but Zach and Liberty are said to have warmed to Zara over the past few years.

“Ryan was nervous about what his kids would think but they’ve got to know Zara and really like her,” a source claimed. “They’re happy because they know he’s happy.” The insider added that the children have teased their father about sleepless nights and early mornings, but that Ryan and Zara are “thrilled” at the prospect of becoming parents together, with a “very solid, loving relationship” and plans for a long-term future.

The positive family news follows a turbulent period for Ryan professionally and personally. In 2023, he was cleared of charges of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour brought by ex-girlfriend Kate Greville. He had been accused of headbutting her and assaulting her sister, Emma, as well as engaging in abusive behaviour, but after years of legal proceedings and a 2022 trial where the jury failed to reach a verdict, prosecutors announced they would offer no further evidence. A judge then formally recorded not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Ryan’s legal team said the case had been based on “many lies,” and described their client as “deeply relieved” the prosecution had ended after almost three years. The defence suggested that new evidence had undermined the case, including details about a cosmetic procedure Kate allegedly underwent around the time of the alleged incident. Prosecutors, however, said the process had taken a heavy toll on Kate and her sister, and that continuing would not be in the public interest.

With the charges dropped, Ryan has returned to work as Director of Football at Salford City, the club he co-owns. The impending arrival of his baby with Zara appears to mark a fresh start in his personal life too, with Stacey’s reported approval helping keep the wider family united.

Although their past has been anything but simple, those close to the former couple suggest that Stacey’s priority is — and always has been — the wellbeing of Zach and Liberty. If Ryan is settled and happy with Zara, the thinking goes, that stability will only benefit their children.

From a marriage marred by scandal to an unconventional but seemingly harmonious blended family, Ryan and Stacey’s story has taken many turns. Now, with a new baby on the way and old legal shadows lifting, all eyes are on how this next chapter unfolds for the former footballer, his girlfriend, and the ex-wife who, against the odds, appears to be firmly in his corner.