Kate Wright and Rio Ferdinand are engaged... and his kids helped plan the proposal

1 November 2018, 11:54 | Updated: 27 February 2019, 11:36

Rio popped the question in a romantic setting
Rio popped the question in a romantic setting. Picture: Instagram

Former England ace Rio Ferdinand proposed to his TOWIE star girlfriend Kate Wright in Abu Dhabi.

Rio Ferdinand has finally popped the question to his long term girlfriend Kate Wright during a trip to Abu Dhabi.

The 39-year old former England star got down on one knee at the swanky St Regis hotel in the United Arab Emirate in front of his three kids who Kate is a doting step mum to.

Read more: Kate Wright revealed she's in charge of the kids while Rio heads to the World Cup

Kate revealed the exciting news on social media with three adorable pictures of the couple kissing in front of a jaw dropping view with the kids excitedly looking on.

She accompanied the sweet photos with the caption: "The perfect end to our holiday...How could the answer not be yes."

Rio later shared the same snap and revealed that his three kids had been in on it the whole time and said: "How these 3 kids kept it a secret I’ll never know."

The pair have been dating since 2016 but took their relationship to the next level when Kate moved in with Rio and the kids in late 2017.

She has become step-mum to the kids after their mum Rebecca Ellison sadly passed away from cancer in 2015 and has taken her responsibility in the family so seriously that she stepped away from her job on The Only Way Is Essex.

She has revealed that despite her step mum job, the kids would love her to have a child of her own with Rio one day.

Speaking to You Magazine she said: "The kids would like a little brother or sister; they say ‘I dreamt that you were pregnant."

“But right now we're just happy with our little unit.”