Actor Richard Harris gave his blessing for his ex-wife to rekindle her romance with former Tory minister Mr Jonathan Aitken, it was revealed today.
Mr Aitken, who announced yesterday that he is to marry Elizabeth Harris, has described how he visited the celebrity in hospital before his death in October and they struck up a bond.
The former politician was sentenced to 18 months in jail for perjury three years ago. He will wed his fiancée, whose previous husbands include actor Sir Rex Harrison and Mr Aitken's cousin Peter Aitken, in England during the summer.
The couple, both in their early 60s, began a relationship nine months ago after rekindling an old romance.
Asked if the relationship was better second time around, Mr Aitken replied: "I don't know. It just feels wonderful."
Mr Aitken said: "I became very fond of Richard before he died. He gave our romance a full and enthusiastic blessing. The one thing we know, he was very very positive about it and told his sons. He knew and told them he was happy. My own ex-wife is also happy for us."
He added that he had no plans to get married after divorcing Lolicia, his wife of 19 years, but it all started when he was reunited with Elizabeth, the daughter of Irish peer Lord Ogmore, who runs a public relations company.
"I made the proposal at Elizabeth's flat because the restaurant we were in was so noisy," Mr Aitken said.
"We waited until Christmas night to tell our families and we remembered in a toast Elizabeth's first husband who died a few months ago."
Elizabeth, who had three sons with Harris, remained friends with the film star after their divorce in 1968.