Lovelorn Goldsmith to wed his Jemima... two years after ex-wife ran off with rapper

Published: 18:17 EST, 16 August 2014 | Updated: 08:45 EST, 17 August 2014

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The end of his marriage could not have been more unpleasant – or high profile.

Problems between Ben Goldsmith and his ex-wife Kate Rothschild exploded into public view two years ago when the pair became involved in an unseemly public spat on Twitter over allegations that Kate had been having an affair with American rapper Jay Electronica.

The pair, who have three children together, saw their nine-year marriage disintegrate in a matter of days, with former Etonian Ben moving out of the couple’s £20 million marital home in West London – and Kate going public about her relationship with Jay.

Happy ending: Ben Goldsmith, 33, is set to marry former model Jemima Jones, 27, two years after his very public split from ex-wife Kate Rothschild

They eventually divorced last year. But now Ben’s fortunes have definitely changed for the better, I can reveal – his gorgeous girlfriend Jemima Jones has just accepted his marriage proposal.

The financier – son of the late billionaire tycoon Sir James Goldsmith – popped the question to the 27-year-old entrepreneur and former model on Wednesday night while the couple enjoyed a romantic holiday in Sicily.

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It means, of course, that there will now be a second Jemima in the family – Ben’s older sister is Jemima Khan, who is dating comedian Russell Brand.

Ben, 33, tells me: ‘I couldn’t be happier or luckier. We are so excited to tell the rest of the family.’

I am told that Ben and his bride-to-be will celebrate their happy news with Ben’s extended family during the Goldsmiths’ annual trip to Marbella, where his mother Lady Annabel has a house.

All over: Ben and Kate Rothschild were married for nine years before their very public split in 2012 which involved social media spats and accusations of infidelity on her part

‘Ben proposed with a single solitaire diamond bought from an antique dealer,’ a friend of the pair tells me.

‘Ben’s children love Jemima and relations with Kate are much friendlier now so it’s a time for real celebration. They haven’t set a date for the wedding yet – they are happy just to enjoy their engagement with their friends and family for now.’

Ben and Jemima, who is the sister of one of the fashion world’s favourite film-makers, Quentin Jones, began dating shortly after Ben’s split from Kate.

Another source adds: ‘Jemima gets on well with Kate and the kids. It’s a really happy situation.’

Poor Prince Harry could soon be the only singleton left in his circle of friends. Just months after Harry, 29, watched best chum Guy Pelly tie the knot with Holiday Inn heiress Lizzy Wilson in Memphis, close friend Viscount Julian Erleigh is now settling down with the lovely Olivia Callaghan.

Prince William was among guests at Guy Pelly's wedding

All loved up: Prince Harry's friend Viscount Julian Erleigh settling down with his girlfriend Olivia Callaghan

The pair began seeing each other earlier this year. Julian, an associate at investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald in London, previously dated Harry’s friend Davina Harbord.

They married in one of the biggest society weddings of 2011, but I’m sorry to report that Lady Catherine Percy, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, and her husband Patrick Valentine, are divorcing.

It was reported that the couple drifted apart just a year after tying the knot at Katie’s family home, Alnwick Castle, which was used as a filming location for Harry Potter and will feature in the new series of Downton Abbey.

But now friends of the couple say the marriage is well and truly over. ‘Katie and Patrick split a while ago – Katie moved back home while Paddy stayed in London,’ says a source.

‘She preferred life at Alnwick but that wasn’t the only reason for the split. They wanted to make it work, of course, but that didn’t happen. It’s sad.’