LOVE AT LAST FOR LILY RICHIE'S MY HAPPY EVER AFTER

The happy couple’s love affair has blossomed in lockdown

When The Bachelorette New Zealand fans were clinging to every onscreen moment during the final rose ceremony, wondering who leading lady Lily McManus would choose to be her man, the reality star was also watching the emotional recap while in self-isolation.

But she wasn’t totally alone – blue-eyed Wanaka clothing designer Richie Boyens was by her side!

The happy couple have been secretly staying together in Nelson since lockdown and laugh at the irony of their relationship finally becoming public when they can’t go anywhere.

“The morning after the episode aired, Lily and I went on a date to the supermarket and post office – all the essential service places,” Richie grins, chatting to Woman’s Day about their blossoming six-month relationship. “Now I just want to take Lily out for breakfast or to go out for a drink and be in a real relationship!”

For the pair, keeping their romance under wraps was the hardest part of stepping away from the Bachelorette bubble.

“Not being able to show people was hard. We’ve basically been isolating for five months – we were doing it before it was cool!” laughs Lily, 23, who has already inked a caterpillar on Richie’s foot during lockdown after purchasing a home tattoo gun. “It’s exciting finally being seen together.”

At one point, the smitten pair almost gave away their secret online by accidentally posting pictures of a television screen – from the same lounge – on the same evening!

“Someone commented that Richie and I must be together and we were like, ‘Sh*t!’ and deleted it.”