Petra Ecclestone is free to move to LA with her children

Petra Ecclestone was today granted permission to quit Britain and move to Los Angeles with her children.

A judge told the millionaire heiress she was free to emigrate to the United States and would have sole custody of the three children she had with ex-husband James Stunt.

However, the judge in London said an agreement had been reached that Mr Stunt could ‘spend time with the children’.

Petra Ecclestone (left) arrives at court in London today with her niece Sophia (also left) and sister Tamara (right)

In a brief public statement, Her Honour Judge Gillian Brasse told the court: ‘There have been lengthy proceedings in relation to the arrangements following the preceding divorce of Petra and Mr Stunt.

‘The financial matters between them were agreed last year. Also an agreement at the end of last year that Miss Ecclestone could relocate to Los Angeles with her children was agreed.’

Her Honour Judge Brasse added: ‘After a hearing I’ve ordered that the children will live with their mother Miss Ecclestone and I will make an order as to how much time they can spend with their father.’

Mr Stunt was not in court to hear that his children would relocate to Los Angeles with their mother, his ex-wife Petra. 

Petra listened silently as Her Honour Judge Brasse delivered her lengthy ruling on the case.

Petra carried her three-year-old niece into the court

Petra was accompanied by Tamara

Petra carried her three-year-old niece into the court, and was accompanied by Tamara (right)

The millionaire Ecclestone sisters put on a show of strength as they arrived at court today.

Flanked by well-dressed bodyguards, Tamara gave her support to big sister Petra on the final day of her divorce settlement hearing.

Tamara’s daughter Sofia was also at the court to offer her support.

Wearing thick winter coats Petra appeared highly polished with her blonde hair tied up in a chignon, while Tamara let her brunette flowing locks hang free.

Petra was wearing a tight pencil shirt, a white bolero jacket, leopard print silk blouse, a camel-hair coat and black Stiletto heels.

The millionaire Ecclestone sisters put on a show of strength as they arrived at court today

The millionaire Ecclestone sisters put on a show of strength as they arrived at court today

The trio drank coffee and hot chocolate at a cafe across the road from the Central London court and browsed in a bookshop before the hearing.

Petra carried her three-year-old niece into the court.

The warring former couple of Petra and Mr Stunt had been back and forth to court for 12 months while they geared up for the £5.5billion divorce battle.

But when their legal teams came before a judge in October, it emerged lawyers had agreed what is believed to be one of Britain’s biggest ever divorce settlements.

James Stunt (file picture)

Mr Stunt's children will relocate to Los Angeles with their mother, his ex-wife Petra

James Stunt (left, file picture) was not in court to hear that his children would relocate to Los Angeles with their mother, his ex-wife Petra (right, with Sophia)

The out-of-court settlement meant a two-day public hearing to decide who should get what after their split was avoided.

Petra and Mr Stunt had been expected to fight over their £158million mansion in Los Angeles and a Grade II-listed home in London’s Chelsea, worth up to £100million.

At a hearing last year, a court was told Mr Stunt had signed a prenuptial agreement worth £16million.

The pair had hired some of the country’s most high profile divorce lawyers to represent them as they fought over how to divide their wealth.

Petra and Mr Stunt are pictured in London in July 2015, before their big money divorce battle

Petra and Mr Stunt are pictured in London in July 2015, before their big money divorce battle

Petra’s lawyers instigated an earlier hearing to force Mr Stunt to move out of their 14-bedroom home in Chelsea, West London.

However, Petra and Mr Stunt have vowed to be ‘firm friends’. In recent months, Petra has been linked to a friend of Tamara’s husband Jay Rutland, Sam Palmer.

The duo were first spotted together in November, enjoying a stroll around London with her twin sons.

It has been claimed the luxury car salesman and Petra have grown ‘close’ and even enjoyed a break to Dubai with Tamara and Mr Rutland three months ago. 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk