Penny Lancaster, 54, gave fans a rare and candid glimpse into her marriage to rock legend Rod Stewart, 80, by revealing a surprisingly strict house rule that governs their home life. Speaking on the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast with Lisa Snowdon and Andy Goldstein, Penny shared how she is not allowed to enter Rod’s treasured model railway room without his presence — a boundary Rod firmly maintains.
The model railway room, home to the Grand Street and Three Rivers Railroad, is a meticulously crafted passion project Rod has been working on for over 35 years. Penny explained that Rod requires a “chaperone” for anyone entering this space, underscoring how important and personal this hobby is to him. Media outlets like GB News, Daily Record, and Entertainment Daily have highlighted this fascinating insight into their 18-year marriage, as of July 2025.
A Hobby of Museum Quality and Personal Sanctuary
Rod’s model railway is no ordinary pastime. The layout, housed in air-tight, air-conditioned containers within their Hertfordshire mansion, is described as museum quality, featuring intricate details such as tiny drainpipes and windows. Rod started the railway project roughly 25 years ago, well before meeting Penny, and it was already halfway completed when their relationship began.
The railway room itself is expansive—about four times the size of the podcast studio where Penny spoke—and Rod dedicates several hours daily to the hobby. He has openly shared that working on the railway keeps him “sane,” highlighting the therapeutic value it holds for him.
The couple’s move from Los Angeles to the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic also meant relocating the railway, adding another layer of commitment to the project and their shared life.
A Marriage Grounded in Love and Tradition
Penny and Rod’s relationship has stood the test of time. They married in June 2007 at a cloistered medieval abbey near Portofino, Italy, in a ceremony attended by 100 guests and celebrated aboard a yacht with red balloons. Rod famously gifted Penny a large white diamond ring to mark the occasion. Together, they are raising two sons, Alastair Wallace Stewart (born 2005) and Aiden Patrick Stewart (born 2011).
Light-Hearted Boundaries in a Long-Lasting Partnership
Penny described her initial reaction to the strict railway room rule as “shocking,” but her tone suggests affection and acceptance of Rod’s need to guard this personal space. The revelation adds a warm, humanizing detail to the couple’s life, showing how even long marriages have their unique quirks and compromises.
As Penny shared on the podcast, this house rule and Rod’s dedication to his model railway offer a glimpse into their partnership’s balance—one where personal passions are respected alongside shared commitment. It’s a reminder that sometimes, love includes honoring the little boundaries that keep a relationship thriving.
