May 6, 2011 20:13

Paul McCartney announces engagement to Nancy Shevell

Ex-Beatle has been dating New York socialite for four years

Photo: PA

Paul McCartney has announced his engagement to his girlfriend of four years Nancy Shevell.

The former Beatle confirmed his plans to marry the New York socialite following recent media speculation, reports Sky News.

McCartney's spokesman Stuart Bell confirmed the engagement, but gave no further details about how and when the proposal took place.

"We're all thrilled for him," he commented.

Speculation about the couple's marriage plans has circulated since 2009, when Shevell finalised her divorce from previous husband Bruce Blakeman.

McCartney has been married twice previously. His first wife, Linda McCartney, died from cancer in 1998.

The Wings man went on to tie the knot for a second time with model Heather Mills in 2002. The couple filed for divorce four years later.

Mills was awarded £24.3 million in a divorce settlement in March 2008. Justice Bennett, the judge who made the ruling, said that throughout the case Mills was "inconsistent and inaccurate", while McCartney was "honest".