Adele sparks new engagement rumours with rare red carpet appearance

Adele made an emotional appearance at today’s BRITs, fighting back tears as she opened up about recent hardships.

Music superstar Adele has walked the red carpet at the BRIT Awards in London today – and sparked new rumours of an engagement to boyfriend Rich Paul by wearing a massive diamond ring on her finger.

She also swept the awards, tearfully thanking her young son and her ex-husband as she accepted the final gong of the night, for Best British Album.

The glammed-up red carpet appearance is the first time the singer has been seen in public since dramatically cancelling her planned Las Vegas residency at the 11th hour last month.

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Adele at the BRITs. Picture: Getty

It’s her first red carpet appearance since pulling the pin on her Vegas residency. Picture: Getty

She performed the song I Drink Wine today’s BRITs, her first appearance at the award show in six years. She picked up a clutch of the night’s biggest awards, scoring gongs for Best Single, Best Artist and finally for Best Album, for her world-conquering new album 30.

Adele kept her speeches brief, telling fans she “loved being a female artist” and paying tribute to those she was nominated alongside - but she saved her most personal message for the award’s closing minutes.

Accepting the Best Album award for 30, a deeply personal album about her own divorce and the effect it’s had on her young son, Adele fought back tears as she dedicated the trophy to her son Angelo and ex-husband Simon Konecki.

“I’d like to dedicate this award to my son... and to Simon, his dad. This album was all of our journey, not just mine. I’m proud of myself for sticking to my guns and putting out an album about something that was so personal to me - cos not many people do stuff like that anymore.”

An emotional Adele accepts the award for Best Artist.

“My son has been so gracious and kind and patient with me over the past few years... it’s for him.”

It’s been a bumpy few weeks for the star, who has weathered a fierce backlash since she posted a tearful video announcing her entire Las Vegas residency would be delayed, just 24 hours out from the first show. At the time she blamed production issues and Covid cases among her team – but the show’s set has since been dismantled and no new dates have been announced, amid reports of creative tensions behind the scenes.

A close-up look at that ring. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

US sports agent Paul, 40, started dating Adele in early 2021 and went official on Instagram in September.

Adele hit back at tabloid reports of problems in her relationship with Paul in a post last week confirming her BRITs appearance, telling fans: “Oh, and Rich sends his love.”

It was a rare red carpet appearance for the star, who hasn’t been to the BRITs in six years. Picture: AFP

But she was slammed for the “tone-deaf” post, which showed her laughing and holding a playing card to the camera but made no mention of the cancelled residency. Ticketholders have not yet been refunded and are waiting to find out if the shows, which were due to take place at the Caesers Palace in Las Vegas every weekend until April, will go ahead at all.

Adele with boyfriend Rich Paul. Picture: Instagram

Adele broke down in tears as she announced the news via an Instagram video last month the night before she was due to take the stage, telling fans: “We’ve been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and Covid.”

“We’ve been awake for over 30 hours now trying to figure it out and we’ve run out of time. I’m so upset and I’m really embarrassed and I’m so sorry to everyone that’s travelled.”