Ellie Goulding’s Ex: Caspar Jopling’s Royal Ties and Hollywood Links May Explain New Romance with Olivia Wilde

Ellie Goulding’s ex-husband Caspar Jopling may very well be the most eligible bachelor that most people have never heard of, as he moves on with Hollywood actress and Harry Styles’ former flame Olivia Wilde. 

The art dealer, 33, who was spotted in a passionate clinch with Ms Wilde last week, may not be in the spotlight himself but his huge fortune and very famous friends connect to him to everyone from the Royal Family to Wednesday Adams.

Born in Yorkshire and educated at Eton, Caspar’s father is the Honourable Nicholas Jopling, whose own father is politician Thomas Michael Jopling, a member of the House of Lords.

His uncle, who no doubt inspired his career, is renowned art dealer Jay Jopling who runs online art platform Paddle 8, where Capsar’s pal Princess Eugenie worked in New York, before moving back to London. Jay was also married to director Sam Taylor Johnson, with whom he shares daughters Jessie, 18, and Angelica, 27. 

The couple separated amicably in 2008 after 11-years of marriage with Sam going on to marry actor and rumoured future James Bond Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, who is 23-years her junior. The couple are now parents to daughters Wylda Rae, 13 and Romy Hero, 12, with Aaron also serving as stepfather to Caspar’s cousins.  

Caspar’s parents divorced and his mother Jayne Warde-Aldam went on to wed Charles Andrew Warde-Aldam. The aristocratic family own Grade II listed building Frickley Hall, which dates back to 1760. Well known in equestrian circles they host their very own Frickley Horse Trials. 

His sister Tamara Meade is also in showbiz and as a make-up artist won an Emmy Award for her work on Netflix’s smash hit series Wednesday. Taking to Instagram last year Caspar proudly shared snaps of his sibling holding her trophy.

He gushed: ‘My sister @tamarameademua just won an EMMY for her work on the Netflix show Wednesday. So flipping proud of her. Her inspirational work ethic pays off..! I bet she’s already at work by the time you’re getting out of bed.. and with a smile on her face too !! Xxx’.

Caspar, who has a staggering net worth of £6.3million, is also close friends with Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, as well as Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. He and ex- wife Ellie attended Eugenie’s wedding at St George’s Chapel back in October 2018.

Eugenie and Beatrice also both attended Caspar and Ellie’s wedding in August 2019, alongside the likes of Sienna Miller, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry. According to rumours, it was Eugenie who first set up the couple at a dinner party as their mutual friend. 

Back in 2016, Caspar raised eyebrows when he shared an image of Eugenie standing alongside a work reading ‘very sexy’ as she stood in Art Basel in Miami. 

Princess Eugenie is known to be close with the popstar, with Ellie singing at both her wedding and the wedding of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. The former couple were said to have joined forces with Eugenie and Jack on a number of double dates.

His latest star-studded connection is to former One Direction star Harry after striking up a romance with the singer’s ex Olivia, following Daily Mail’s exclusive snaps of the pair sharing a passionate kiss. Sources said they have been together since early July and have been enjoying romantic dates ‘under the radar’ in Notting Hill. 

Back in 2021, Olivia’s personal life was fiercely picked apart by the world after it was revealed that she was dating Harry, just months after she had split from her partner of 10 years, Jason Sudeikis.

At the time, rumours erupted that she had an affair with the One Direction member – who is 10 years younger than her – which were only heightened after her former nanny made a series of explosive claims about their split; Olivia has since denied that she was unfaithful to Jason.

Even so, her and Harry’s romance was certainly controversial. On top of the swirling allegations that she had cheated on Jason with the singer, there was also speculation that their romance had caused serious ‘tension’ on the set of her psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling.

Harry and Olivia fell in love while they were making the film – which she directed and they both starred in, alongside Florence Pugh and Chris Pine – and it was reported that some cast members were put off by their romance. When it came time for the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, things seemed immensely icy between Olivia and Florence on the red carpet.

Caspar and Olivia spent three hours having a meal and drinking red wine at The Pelican restaurant in the West London enclave before their passionate embrace outside the venue. Sources said he is an investor in the restaurant and its nearby sister pub, The Fat Badger, allowing him to date the actress in relative privacy.

‘Those pubs have allowed Caspar to date a world-famous actress under the radar for months.  They always manage to get the best tables – little concealed spots in dark corners reserved for celebrities. 

‘They tend to go to The Fat Badger for date nights because it’s an invitation-only pub, with a secret smoking terrace upstairs.’

Coincidentally, her next acting role is set in the art world – an erotic thriller called I Want Your Sex, which co-stars pop queen Charli XCX. Our source added: ‘Caspar’s friends think they are falling in love. 

‘Now they are ready to be open about their relationship so you can expect to see them out and about together more often.’

However, that does risk Caspar running into his ex. 

Notting Hill was also where Ellie was seen on a date with her new boyfriend, 28-year-old American actor Beau Minniear, who is ten years her junior just days earlier. The couple are said to have met earlier this year, with the first pictures of them together, taking a casual stroll. 

It has been nearly 18 months since Ellie and Caspar – who have a five-year-old son – separated and they are said to remain on amicable terms.

She was briefly linked to Costa Rican surfing instructor, Armando Perez, and was also said to have been close to Tory peer Zac Goldsmith, 50, who recently got married for the third time, to PR guru Hum Fleming, 35.

Caspar is not known to have dated since the split from Ellie.

Their split was first rumoured in June 2023, when sources claimed they were ‘living apart’.

After weeks of discussions about how they would reveal their separation, the pop star’s team finally revealed they had been spending time apart – blaming their ‘hectic schedules’ for the demise of their marriage.