In Love For Life - Paul's Girl Is Getting Married!

Bella Gets The Surprise Of Her Life With A Sunrise Proposal.

- Kelly Bertrand​​​​​​​

Paul Henry knows he’s a lucky man. There was the great TV career, a close family – and of course, his current life on the high seas on his own yacht, Olive, named after his beloved late mum.

But almost all of it paled in comparison to a moment on the bow of his boat, with Venice’s St Mark’s square dazzling in the background, as he watched his youngest daughter Bella (26) get engaged to the man of her dreams, Julyan Collett (29).

“What a privilege,” the proud dad says down the phone to the Weekly from Olive, which is currently anchored in Athens.

“How many parents get to see their daughter’s proposal? It was very special.”

Of course for Bella, Paul’s mini-me and youngest daughter, it was simply a fairy tale. “I’m all grown up now!” she exclaims.

“It was amazing. Julyan and Daddy planned it so well – they’d been working at it for about a month, which is very impressive, because I find out everything.”

“She does,” Julyan adds with a smile. “She’s incredibly hard to surprise because she probes constantly, so it took a bit of planning!”

The magical moment – which was actually 12 months in the making – took place in August during the couple’s holiday with Paul. Julyan, who has known Bella for 10 years and been with her officially for three, knew the trip was the perfect time to pop the question, and he also knew Paul – and Olive – had to be part of it.

“I came up with the plan with Paul and it was a no-brainer, really,” Julyan explains.

“I know how close Bella is with her dad, and how close she was to her grandmother, so I knew the boat was perfect.”