WELCOMING US INTO THEIR HOME NATALIE AND ZAFAR RUSHDIE INTRODUCE US TO BABY LILY AND SHARE THE SECRETS OF HER NAME
HELLO! UK|June 10, 2024
There is a definite sense of controlled chaos in Natalie and Zafar Rushdie's West London house when HELLO! goes to meet the new addition to their family.
LAURA BENJAMIN
WELCOMING US INTO THEIR HOME NATALIE AND ZAFAR RUSHDIE INTRODUCE US TO BABY LILY AND SHARE THE SECRETS OF HER NAME

Zafar, 44, is rushing around making sure everyone is comfortable while getting their three-year-old daughter Rose ready for nursery. Natalie, 37, serenely feeds their newborn baby daughter - who we can exclusively reveal is named Lily Saloni Franciszka.

With their beloved dog Pickle by her side, too, it's clear the jazz singer is in her element. "Without sounding twee, I feel like I was meant to be a mother," she tells us during our exclusive photoshoot and interview. "Zaf and I went out together for the first time yesterday and I was like: 'Can we go home now?' I just like being here with my babies. I've always been very familyoriented and I feel so content."

FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Natalie tells us about the romantic gesture that inspired their baby girl's first name: "After our first date in 2010, Zaf sent me huge bunch of lilies, so it was always on our contender list."

Lily's middle names reflect their joint heritage. Zafar, the son of celebrated author Sir Salman, says: "I'm half Indian so felt it would be nice to give a nod to my family background, and we both love the name Saloni." Franciszka, meanwhile, is after Natalie's beloved Polish grandmother: "She turns 96 this year and is the most inspirational woman I know, so we wanted to give a little nod to her with that name and spelling," she says.

Describing her taste and style as "granny chic", Natalie's influence is felt throughout the house, especially in the nursery. The floral wallpaper is from Sanderson, while Natalie herself made the traditional doll's house that leans against the wall, as well as a cross stitch bearing her daughter's name.

Meanwhile, Rose's room features an antique rocking horse handed down through Zafar’s family – it was a gift from his great-great-grandmother to his great-grandmother more than 100 years ago.

TEARFUL MOMENT

This story is from the June 10, 2024 edition of HELLO! UK.

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This story is from the June 10, 2024 edition of HELLO! UK.

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