Eamonn Holmes sent estranged wife Ruth Langsford a reassuring message after friends denied he is engaged to Katie Alexander – and is delaying going public with their relationship to protect his ex’s feelings

Eamonn Holmes reportedly sent his estranged wife a reassuring message that he was not engaged after news broke that he was marrying Katie Alexander.

The 64-year-old GB News presenter was in the spotlight after proposing to Katie, 42, after she was spotted wearing a stunning diamond ring.

However, friends close to the two deny that they are engaged after rumours emerged last weekend, insisting that they are in it ‘for the long term’.

In an attempt to protect Ruth Langsford’s feelings, Eamonn is said to have contacted her to undermine speculation of an engagement.

A source told MailOnline: ‘There are other people involved and I know Eamonn had to message Ruth to let her know there was nothing to the engagement rumours.’

The insider revealed that Katie is keen to go public with their relationship, having grown out of a close friendship, but Eamonn is reluctant.

They said: ‘Katie just wants to get it over with quickly, but Eamonn is less keen because he doesn’t want to hurt Ruth’s feelings.’

Eamonn had previously said he hoped to maintain his friendship with Ruth after they announced their split after 14 years of marriage (27 together).

Open to the Mirror About his private life he said: ‘It’s too early to say, but I hope we can still be friends.’

Eamonn is reportedly head over heels for Katie and their relationship has ‘taken it to the next level’, MailOnline previously revealed.

Friends claimed that after his marriage to Ruth ended, they now spent most weekends together at his Richmond apartment.

Eamonn and Katie are torn about when to go public with their relationship, after reportedly being offered ‘a lot of money’ for the official first photos of them together.

The source told us, “They got paid a pretty penny for the first photos of them together.”

Despite their relationship going from strength to strength, Eamonn and Ruth have still been spotted wearing their wedding rings recently.

Eamonn and Katie’s friendship grew stronger when he moved out of the family home where he lived with Ruth, after his desperate wife discovered messages between him and another mystery woman.

Katie has told friends that their previously “close friendship” has “improved a few levels.”

And our source added: ‘Katie and Eamonn are definitely in it for the long haul. She says she loves him and he loves her.’

Katie sparked much engagement speculation after she was photographed wearing a diamond ring on her wedding finger over the weekend.

But we can also reveal that the sparkler is a ‘year-old’ piece of jewellery and that Eamonn didn’t get down on one knee to propose to the marriage counsellor, who specialises in helping people recover from the trauma of divorce.

A source told us: “Katie has had that ring for a long time – it’s years old. The photo has caused hilarity among her family and friends and also quite a bit of bewilderment. It seems like she is playing games to create headlines and speculation.

Eamonn had been befriending the adviser who specialised in ‘affairs and betrayals’ for months before his wedding.

Over the past year, he has grown closer to Katie behind the back of his heartbroken wife and legendary co-host Ruth.

The star showered Katie with gifts and trips and became friends with her children as their relationship grew closer.

The breakfast host treated Katie and her family to a trip to Woburn Safari Park in Bedford in February, and they even posted snaps of their outing on social media.

Eamonn has not publicly revealed that he was on a day trip with his new companion.

Katie’s head was just visible in the back of the jeep he posed in front of, while unsuspecting fans had no idea of ​​the blossoming romance behind Ruth’s back.

Last year he treated her and her two youngest children to a stay at Center Parcs and last year to a performance by Beyoncé.

Eamonn, a die-hard Manchester United fan, gave Katie and her children his tickets to a Premier League match at Old Trafford last season.

And to further infuriate his now estranged wife Ruth, Katie left her home in the north on several occasions to stay at the four-star Brooklands Hotel in Weybridge, Surrey – just a 10-minute drive from Eamonn’s marital home.

Katie was spotted at the sprawling spa destination – next to Mercedes Benz World and a race track – in March and was described as a ‘frequent visitor’.

The counsellor told her friends she had had a “wonderful weekend” and that she had also visited Northern Ireland with Eamonn.

Also last October, the TV star attended a small fundraising event at Yorkshire mental health charity Platform 1, where she agreed to become a patron. It was just minutes from Katie’s home.

Katie has worked at the charity, which is a nine-hour drive from Eamonn’s home, for two years.

Divorced Katie met Eamonn through Twitter after she commented on a post that sparked a conversation in 2015.