Mary Portas Reveals Brother is Biological Father of Son Horatio in Emotional Interview
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Retail expert Mary Portas shared a deeply personal story, revealing that her brother, Lawrence, served as the sperm donor for her son, Horatio, born in 2012. The revelation came during an interview on Jamie Laing’s podcast, where the 65-year-old Portas recounted the unconventional path to expanding her family with her then-wife, Melanie Rickey.
A Desire for Biological Connection
Portas, already a mother to sons Mylo, 31, and Verity, 29, from a previous marriage to Graham Portas – whom she divorced in 2003 – explained her desire for a biological link to her existing children when considering another child. “If I was going to have another child, I wanted to make sure that it was related in some way and biologically related to my other kids,” she stated on Laing’s “Great Company” podcast.
The decision came after meeting fashion journalist Melanie Rickey in 2003, a relationship that led Portas to recognize her identity as a lesbian. She described a clear intention to maintain a “bloodline” with her other children, leading her to consider her brother, Lawrence, as a potential donor.
Lawrence’s Generous Gift
According to Portas, Lawrence readily agreed to help. “And Lawrence turned up to the old donor place and said, ‘Done it, sis!’” she recalled with emotion. Melanie Rickey then underwent IVF treatment and carried Horatio to term.
Portas became visibly emotional describing the moment Lawrence first held his nephew. “The most beautiful time is when, you know, he came into the world and I rang Lawrence and Lawrence turned up and picked him up,” she shared. “And it was like, it was his gift to me. God, I get emotional. It was his gift. And it was the greatest gift.” She emphasized the years of mutual support with her brother, culminating in this profound act of familial love.
A Journey of Love and Family
Portas and Rickey formalized their relationship with a civil partnership in 2010, followed by a marriage in 2014. Portas previously described discovering her sexuality as a realization centered around her connection with Rickey, stating to The Guardian that it wasn’t about attraction to other women generally, but “just about Melanie.” She also noted the increasing fluidity she observed in others’ sexual identities, with many women sharing similar experiences of discovering their attraction later in life.
However, the couple ultimately divorced in 2019 following a period of “conscious uncoupling,” coinciding with Rickey’s struggles with alcoholism. A joint statement released at the time emphasized their commitment to co-parenting Horatio and maintaining a friendship. “We remain a family, and are committed co-parents to three wonderful humans (plus Walter the dog!) who are our priority,” the statement read.
Despite the divorce, Portas and Rickey continue to co-parent Horatio, demonstrating a dedication to family that transcends their romantic relationship. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the diverse and evolving ways families are created, and the enduring power of love and generosity within them.
