Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman are engaged after dating for 13 years

British TV star and multi-millionaire Simon Cowell, 62, has popped the question to his girlfriend of 13 years, 44-year-old Lauren Silverman.

Simon Cowell is to marry for the first time, after secretly proposing to his girlfriend, Lauren Silverman.

The 62-year-old X Factor star – who previously declared he didn’t believe in marriage – got down on one knee during the couple’s recent holiday in Barbados, The Sun can reveal.

Cowell popped the question in front of the couple’s seven-year-old son, Eric, and stepson Adam, from Lauren’s first marriage, on Christmas Eve.

A source said: “Simon and Lauren are ridiculously, nauseatingly in love – incredibly, lockdown brought them closer than ever.

“Lauren was absolutely stunned and never in a million years expected Simon to pop the question. She burst into tears – happy tears – and obviously said ‘yes’ straight away.

“It was important to Simon that the kids were there too, as he adores them both and the family they’ve become.

“Lauren has been Simon’s rock over these past few years – supporting him when he broke his back, and through thick and thin generally. They make a wonderful couple.

“Whilst Simon never thought he was the marrying type, he’s realised he’s met the woman of his dreams – and couldn’t be happier. In the words of Beyoncé, it was time to put a ring on it.”

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Simon and Lauren first met in 2004. Picture: Getty Images

The mogul, worth $A662 million, has been dating the stunning American socialite, 44 – who is also a millionaire in her own right – for 13 years.

They have homes together in Los Angeles and London, and saw in the new year with friends at Cowell’s Baja pad.

The couple first met in 2004 when Lauren was still married to one of Cowell’s good friends, property mogul Andrew Silverman.

They later fell in love and went public with their relationship in 2013.

Television personality Simon Cowell proposed in Barbados. Picture: Getty Images

According to sources, Lauren was ‘stunned’. Picture: Getty Images

Lauren fell pregnant with the couple’s son, Eric, who was named after the Britain’s Got Talent star’s beloved late dad, soon after.

Cowell, whose ex-girlfriends include singer Sinitta, TV presenter Terri Seymour and make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy, previously said he didn’t believe in marriage.

In 2008 he said: “I don’t believe in marriage, certainly not in this business.

“The truth is that you get married and in a year or two they clean you out! It’s just not going to work.”

A spokesman for Cowell confirmed the happy news but declined to comment further.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and is reproduced here with permission