Ed Sheeran has revealed he spiralled through 'fear, depression and anxiety' when his wife Cherry was diagnosed with a tumour last year during her second pregnancy.
The singer and his childhood sweetheart Cherry, were dealt the devastating news around the time Ed's close pal Jamal Edwards, who helped launched his music career, died suddenly at the age of 31.
Opening up to fans on the release of his latest album, Ed said: "Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth.
“My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety.
“I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.”
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Ed Sheeran has spoken about Cherry Seaborn's health in his new album announcement (Getty Images)It was a rare personal admission from Ed who has opted to stay out of the limelight in recent years.
The hitmaker has also concealed much of his relationship with wife Cherry from fans, including immediate announcements of the birth of their children and their 2019 wedding.
After Ed's rare statement, here's what we do know about their incredible love story
The duo first met as pupils at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, Suffolk.
Flame-haired Ed developed a crush on his pretty classmate - but any chance of romance was cut short as academic Cherry transferred to America to attend Duke University in Durham, North Carolina to study for a degree in molecular biology.
Cherry came back into Ed's life years after they met (Splash News)While rocker Ed dropped out of school at the tender age of 16 to pursue a career in the music industry.
His bold move paid off beyond his wildest dreams as after years of couch surfing and touring he rocketed to global superstardom off the back of hugely successful debut album +, released in 2011.
But his enormous fame came at a price for Ed
In 2015 he left fans heartbroken by announcing he was stepping away from the public eye and taking a year off social media to try and readjust to his new life.
Ed took a break from music in 2015 (PA)In an interview, Ed said he even locked himself away in his London home for four months as he struggled to come to terms with his enormous celebrity.
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"I watched movies. I couldn’t just go out and get a pint of milk. I always wanted to maintain normality. I was ordering takeaways and putting on a lot of weight," he admitted.
After hitting a low-point, a frazzled Ed saw a way out in using some of his wealth to tour the world - and included a stop in Cherry's new place of residence.
Ed said he didn't leave the house for four months (Getty)Desperate to get in touch with his roots after his mammoth success, Ed took the step of reaching out to his old school friend.
Luckily, Cherry was delighted to hear from him and it wasn't long before the pair were spotted hanging out together in the States - and were photographed at baseball games and on other coupley days out.
"This has been the first time I’ve ever actually had the time to fall in love properly. I’ve always got into relationships very passionately — I’m a redhead and also Irish," Ed said of their early days.
As romance blossomed, Cherry took some time out of her schedules and joined Ed on a 'late gap year' travelling to Japan, New Zealand Ghana.
On their return, Cherry took a position at accountancy firm Deloitte in London in order to be closer to Ed's base.
The smitten pair then moved in together, enjoying their success privately rather than hanging out at wild showbiz parties.
Ed said he's now the 'happiest he's ever been' (PA)Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Ed said "I'm actually the happiest I've been and it's because I had a year to spend with someone. I've always started relationships then gone off on tour.
"I spent every day for a year with this certain person, we kind of have a strong relationship now which is good.
"I'm really secure now, we live together and we have cats, and I think when you have cats that's kind of it."
(Instagram)In January 2018, Ed announced he'd secretly popped the question to Cherry over the Christmas holidays.
Announcing the news in a loved-up Instagram post, he wrote: "Got myself a fiancé just before new year. We are very happy and in love, and our cats are chuffed as well xx."
While Ed is still yet to comment, a source close to the pair has told how he and Cherry managed to tie the knot in similarly private circumstances.
Ed giggled and blushed when he was congratulated about his engagement (Getty Images North America)An insider told how Ed and Cherry realised their dream of having a no fuss winter wedding shortly before Christmas 2018.
It's understood none of Ed's celebrity pals were in attendance, with the guestlist restricted to old school friends, close family and a priest.
"There were only 40 people – so no Taylor Swift, record company executives or any royals or popstar pals.
"He wanted no fuss and he wanted it to be something entirely for them – just a tiny winter wedding," the insider told The Sun.
Ed married childhood sweetheart Cherry in a private ceremony at the singer's country estate.
Ed Sheeran didn't invite any of his close pals - including Taylor Swift to his wedding (WireImage)Though rumours have been mounting for months, the pair chose not to confirm the news though Ed as spotted sporting a silver band on his left hand afterwards.
Ed was asked about marriage rumours during an interview with ET.
The Perfect Singer was asked about what he'd want from a wedding ceremony but answered nothing but 'no' to all questions.
However he did admit: "I don’t like large groups of people at the best of times, so I never wanted a wedding where there were loads of people."
Ed shared this intimate snap of him and Cherry cuddled up (Instagram)
Ed Sheeran has welcomed two children with wife Cherry (INSTAGRAM/ED SHEERAN)Then in 2020, two became three as Ed and Cherry welcomed their first daughter - Lyra Antartica Seaborn Sheeran.
Ed spoke of his new arrival on Instagram a month later: "Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter — Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran," he wrote beside a picture of tiny socks and a baby blanket.
"We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here."
Two years later Ed made a very similar announcement when the duo welcomed another baby girl.
"We've had another beautiful baby girl. We are both so in love with her, and over the moon to be a family of 4." The pair have yet to reveal the newborn's name
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