Maria Shriver beams as she steps out with hunky son Christopher on his 26th birthday… after ex Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed their close post-divorce bond

Maria Shriver beamed as she was spotted with her son Christopher Schwarzenegger in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Christopher, who recently made headlines for his stunning transformation into a muscular hunk, celebrated his 26th birthday that day.

His proud mother was the picture of glee as she strolled beside him, draping her own lithe body in a set of cushioned workout gear.

The 67-year-old niece of John F. Kennedy shaded her face with an elegant visor and accentuated her features with naturalistic makeup.

She shares four children with her ex-husband Arnold Schwarzenegger: Christopher and Katherine, 33, Christina, 32, and Patrick, 30.

When Christopher was spotted on his birthday this week, he showed off his muscular arms in a burnt orange T-shirt, with a dashing mullet and a shaggy touch of scruff.

The mother-son outing comes after Arnold pulled back the curtain on the cozy post-divorce relationship he shares with his ex-wife.

During a sit-down with Peoplethe 76-year-old actor revealed that he still held his ex-husband, who he was married to from 1986 to 2021, in high regard despite their divorce.

The star of the Terminator franchise, who was recently spotted with his current girlfriend, Heather Milligan, stated that his “chapter with Maria will last forever” and that there was “no reason for me to feel anything other than love for her .’

Schwarzenegger began by admitting that his past actions led to the end of his relationship with the 67-year-old journalist, with whom he shares sons Patrick, 30, and Christopher, 26, as well as daughters Katherine, 33, and Christina, 31. .

He said, “We never left the (first) chapter because remember, it’s not like we had a feud. We didn’t argue. It’s just my fault, right?’

The former couple split in 2011 after it was revealed that the Predator star had fathered a son named Joseph, 25, with his family’s former housekeeper, Mildred Baena.

The actor also recalled that he, as well as his former wife, decided to focus on the well-being of their children after their divorce.

On the road: Christopher, who recently made headlines for his stunning transformation into a muscular hunk, celebrated his 26th birthday that day

Looking fantastic: His proud mother was the picture of glee as she sauntered next to him, draping her own lithe body in a set of cushioned workout gear

“She said, ‘Okay, this is what it is,’ and then she decided to break up, so it was her decision. But the fact is that we have always made it very clear that the children should not suffer from this,” he recalls.

Schwarzenegger went on to talk about his current relationship with Shriver, saying, “Everything is just like we’re together, but we have separate lives.”

He added that his ex-wife “has her stuff, her relationship, I have mine, but we always talk about the kids, about the holidays.”

The former California governor has since moved on with Milligan, whom he first met in 2012.

The pair were introduced after Schwarzenegger underwent shoulder surgery and was referred by his surgeon to his girlfriend, who works as a physiotherapist.

The performer recalled, “After my therapy ended, after I finished the movie, I called her back and took her out to dinner to say thank you. And one thing led to another.’

He expressed his opinion: Arnold stated that his “chapter with Maria will last forever and that there was “no reason for me to feel anything other than love for her”; they can be seen in 1986

Divorce: The former couple split in 2011 after it was revealed that the Predator star had fathered a son named Joseph, 25, with his family’s former housekeeper, Mildred Baena; they can be seen in 2003

Keeping in touch: He added that his former wife “has her stuff, her relationship, I have mine, but we always communicate about the kids, about the holidays”; she is seen with her son Patrick, daughter Katherine and son-in-law Chris Pratt in March

Elaborate: Schwarzenegger went on to talk about his current relationship with Shriver, stating that “everything is just like we’re together, but we have separate lives.”

The happy couple first started seeing each other in 2013, although they didn’t make their red carpet debut for another two years.

Schwarzenegger has made no secret of his affection for his girlfriend, with whom he recently attended the Oktoberfest in Munich.

‘We have so many things in common. Our relationship is fantastic. “I think the world is hers,” he said.

The actor added, “I love that she loves to work. She is clearly independent. She’s just incredibly driven.”

The new lady in his life: Schwarzenegger and Heather Milligan at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany on September 21