Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi are embracing the festive season in the Cotswolds with a brand-new family member despite plans to return to California for warmer weather.
Just a year ago, the longtime couple began putting down roots in the English countryside after relocating from the U.S. to escape what they once described as the ‘perils’ of Donald Trump’s America.
But their British dream quickly hit a soggy snag when their $15 million countryside home was surrounded by floodwater shortly after they moved in, forcing them to retreat to higher ground.
The pair soon upgraded to a sleek $25 million hilltop property, a far cry from their flooded retreat and far more reminiscent of the ultra-luxe homes they previously owned in Montecito and Malibu.
Even so, The Mail on Sunday recently reported the couple planned to flee the UK altogether over the cold, gloomy Christmas weather and return stateside to spend the holidays with friends and family.
However, de Rossi appeared to hint otherwise after sharing a series of cozy holiday snaps on Instagram — including a heartwarming introduction of a new four-legged friend to the family.
Ellen DeGeneresand wife Portia de Rossi are embracing the festive season in the Cotswolds with a brand-new family member despite plans to return to Californiafor warmer weather; (pictured 2023)
The former model shared photos of the couple’s newest four-legged addition (left), who joins their dog Sport (right), the puppy they welcomed in October
The former model shared photos of the couple’s newest addition, who joins their dog Sport, the puppy they welcomed in October.
The December arrival of the unnamed pup shows the pair quickly bonding, with both dogs clearly enamored with each other.
De Rossi cheekily captioned the puppy carousel, ‘Lady and the Tramp’.
Among the photos were rare glimpses of her family — including her seldom-seen brother Michael Rogers — suggesting the couple may still be ringing in the festive season across the pond after all.
In one snap, de Rossi is seen standing outside the cozy countryside cottage alongside Michael, what appears to be his wife Casey, and their daughters.
She captioned the sweet family moment, ‘Family visit in the Cotswolds…’
While there is still time for DeGeneres and de Rossi to hop on a flight back to California in search of sunshine, the couple appear to be soaking up the festive cheer just fine for now.
That said, The Mail on Sunday reported last week that DeGeneres has privately told friends they plan to spend more time stateside because they ‘miss their friends’ and dread facing another British winter.
The December arrival of the unnamed pup shows the furry pair bonding, with both dogs clearly enamored with each other
Among the photos were rare glimpses of her family — including her seldom-seen brother Michael Rogers — suggesting the couple may still be ringing in the festive season across the pond after all
A source said: ‘Ellen was adamant that she and Portia were going to stay in the UK while Trump was in the White House, but evidently she’s changed her mind somewhat.
‘She’s been telling friends they are coming home soon because they miss them and can’t take the winters over there, and Portia wants to act again. They will be here for the holidays and longer by the sound of it.’
The couple, who married in 2008, originally settled at Kitesbridge Farm in Swinbrook, Oxfordshire, before listing the 43-acre estate for $22.5 million in July.
They later relocated to a sprawling hilltop mansion with enough land to accommodate horses — a must-have for the former actress, who is an avid rider.
DeGeneres previously explained the move, saying: ‘When we decided to live here full time we knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses. We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.’
The property also offers plenty of space for their dogs — puppies Sport and Jinx, along with older dog Kid.
Despite appearances of settling in, a source insisted the California pull remains strong.
‘Ellen was very clear that they’re coming back to California sooner rather than later. They miss the warm weather and their friends.’
The Mail on Sunday reported last week that DeGeneres has privately told friends they plan to spend more time stateside because they ‘miss their friends’ and dread facing another British winter; (Cotswold homes pictured)
A source close to the presenter later denied that any move back to America would be permanent.
The couple appeared to be adapting well to country life, however, having been spotted at local watering holes including Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmer’s Dog in Burford and The Falkland Arms in Great Tew.
DeGeneres previously explained the timing of their relocation, saying: ‘We got here [to the UK] the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in’. And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here’.’
Meanwhile, de Rossi’s close bond with her brother Michael stretches far beyond holiday visits.
Mortgage documents and property records obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that DeGeneres and de Rossi have loaned millions to their respective brothers to help them purchase luxury homes in California.
In 2015, DeGeneres assisted her only sibling, older brother Vance DeGeneres, 69, when he and his wife Joanna bought a three-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Sherman Oaks for $1,439,000.
Records show the couple took out a loan for the full amount from Ellen and Portia, agreeing to repay the mortgage with interest. The contract states they will ‘keep said property in good condition and repair’.
The couple were reportedly even more generous with de Rossi’s brother.
Mortgage documents and deeds obtained by the Daily Mail show the couple have loaned millions to Ellen’s older brother Vance DeGeneres (left) as well as Portia’s brother Michael Rogers (right) to purchase their respective homes over the years
Michael and Casey (pictured) took out a loan with Ellen and Portia for a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Santa Barbara home with a pool for $4.9 million
In May 2019, Michael and his wife Casey purchased a four-bedroom, four-bathroom Santa Barbara home with a pool for $4.9 million.
Documents show Ellen and Portia loaned them $4,905,420.75 — nearly the full purchase price — under similar terms, with the interest rate and loan length undisclosed.
Michael is co-founder of the art company General Public, which uses 3D-printing technology to create artwork.
According to the company, it aims to make art more accessible and works with more than 5,000 artists worldwide.
De Rossi has previously spoken candidly about how her relationship with her brother deepened following a personal betrayal involving her ex-husband, photographer Mel Metcalfe, who left her for Michael’s then-wife Renee Kappos.
In her 2010 memoir Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain, she wrote: ‘When Mel left me and Renee suddenly sabotaged her marriage to my brother to be with Mel, Brother and I were left idiotically scratching our heads in disbelief.’
She continued: ‘When my husband left me, my brother moved into my place… My husband ran off with his wife, so we kept each other company and we liked to go out for margaritas and Mexican food to commiserate.’
De Rossi divorced Metcalfe in 1999 and later said the marriage helped her come to terms with her sexuality.
‘By the end of our first year together, despite my desire to be attracted to him, my latent fear of my real sexuality was simmering and about to boil. I was almost positive I was gay. So I married him.’
She later met DeGeneres in 2000.
The two began dating in 2004 and married on August 16, 2008, in an intimate ceremony at their Beverly Hills home.
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