A timeline of Pip Edwards and Michael Clarke’s doomed love story

From the outside, fashion icon Pip Edwards and cricket legend Michael Clarke appeared to be the Bondi power couple who had it all.

But on Friday, it was announced that the fairtytale was over between the P.E Nation designer and the sporting icon, less than six months after they went public with their romance.  

From falling in love, to controversial headlines and their shocking demise, Daily Mail Australia looks at the timeline of the pair’s doomed love story.

The love story begins

Michael, 39, and Pip, 40, had been longtime friends for over 12 years, with their romantic relationship only blossoming following his split from wife Kyly Clarke.

Michael and Kyly had reportedly separated in September 2019, but kept their split quiet until officially confirming the news in February 2020. 

They couple said that no third party was involved.

Michael and Pip were first spotted in the same setting after they both attended a New Year’s Day function at Bondi Icebergs in January 2020, where they were seen laughing and chatting together alongside a string of their friends.

But at the end of February, days after Michael and Kyly’s split announcement, the sports star was seen leaving Pip’s house in the early hours – sending speculation into overdrive that something more had blossomed between the pair. 

Confusion

Despite mass speculation, both Michael and Pip denied they were in a relationship for weeks, instead insisting they were ‘just friends’.

As rumours circulated across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Pip told Daily Mail Australia in February that the claims were ‘absolutely unfounded and untrue.’

‘That’s all I have to say. Thank you,’ she added.

Michael’s personal assistant Sasha Armstrong also played down the romance rumours, saying: ‘Michael has known Pip for over a decade and is currently working with both Pip and Claire on a special project with P.E Nation.’

But despite their denials, it’s understood they were in fact an item.

The couple reportedly ended things in April because Michael couldn’t handle the publicity that came with dating Pip, and she later spoke of ‘being alone at 40’ in an interview with Gritty Pretty magazine.

However, in late June, it seems the duo reunited.

Michael reportedly confirmed his relationship in a report by The Sydney Morning Herald – saying the couple were keeping their romance ‘low-key’ for the sake of their respective children.

Around the same time, Pip appeared to confirm the romance on Instagram – sharing a mirror selfie and said that she was wearing her ‘boyfriend’s blazer’. 

Then, in July, Pip finally shared her first picture of the duo together cuddling at the beach on Instagram. She captioned the snap: ‘Out of office’.

Official 

From then on, the duo – who are estimated to have a combined fortune of close to $50million – appeared more loved-up than ever as they were pictured out and about together on numerous occasions. 

In July, the duo even took Pip’s son, Justice, 13, and Michael and Kyly’s daughter Kelsey Lee, four, with them as they enjoyed their first ever holiday together in Noosa.

The pair couldn’t seem to get enough of each other as they soaked up the sun on their romantic getaway, and were even spotted sharing a cute embrace as they enjoyed lunch with their children.

The loved-up couple were then spotted several times spending time on a $15million superyacht owned by Michael’s close friend and accountant, Anthony Bell.

As their romance continued to heat up, the pair made the decision to make their first public outing at the Everest Cup Racing Carnival on October 17.

At the star-studded event, Pip showed off her trim pins in a black $1,200 miniskirt, a custom made piece by Australian designer by Lillian Khallouf, which she teamed with a $4,750 Louis Vuitton cape-style top.

Controversy 

Pip began hitting headlines for all the wrong reasons soon after the duo went public.

At the end of October, leaked e-mails revealed how her staff refused to sign off on an Archibald Prize entry portrait of her, because it made her look ‘old’.

Melbourne artist Lauren Ferrier, 25, told Daily Mail Australia she approached the prominent fashionista in late 2019 to ask if she would be her subject in the prestigious competition.

But almost a year later, her top aide Louise Gaffikin refused to have Pip sign off on the finished product – as it didn’t ‘align’ with the high-profile designer’s image and made her look ‘older beyond her years’, leaked emails revealed.

The signature was simply to prove they had met, as per the competition’s conditions, Lauren said. Pip eventually acquiesced and signed the form.

Following mass backlash, Ms Gaffikin later said in a statement: ‘Pip is a creative individual. She has a wealth of ideas, thoughts and openness.

‘There is always room for wide interpretation and personal subjectiveness when it comes to artistic expression and it is often subjective.

‘She appreciates the artist’s take on her, hence why the portrait was submitted for consideration.’

It wasn’t the only time Pip landed in hot water in recent months.

On January 26 – Australia Day – Pip came under fire after she uploaded a post on Instagram condemning the national holiday, hours before attending a party alongside Michael where the Aboriginal flag was mistakenly flown upside down.

A day later, Pip shared a grovelling apology online which read: ‘I want to express my sincere apologies to those that I have offended.’

‘My intentions were always from a good place, in support of all people, wanting unity and community in this country and globally,’ she continued.

Pip insisted she had ‘no idea’ the Aboriginal flag was upside down in the photos she uploaded from Tuesday’s backyard party.

‘I innocently did not realise that the Aboriginal flag was upside down and was more focused on the idea of raising both flags together on the one pole, flying as one,’ she wrote.

‘I understand it was a huge mistake to not know at the time but my intention was never to cause disrespect.’

She also expressed regret over sharing another Australia Day post on Tuesday that read: ‘A day to celebrate the land that we live and thrive on. I love you, Australia.’ 

The break-up

Neither Michael or Pip have featured on each other’s Instagram page since Australia Day. 

While no reason for the pair’s break-up has been confirmed, Pip and ‘Pup’ are understood to have split in recent weeks, less than a year after they went public with their relationship.

When contacted about their split on Friday, Edwards told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I have no comment, no comment at all.’

Sources close to the pair said while they have gone separate ways, they remain good friends and the split is ‘amicable’.

Another said that despite the couple’s propensity for loved-up Instagram posts, over recent times: ‘Things had been rather rocky’.

The last image that Pip has posted online was of herself attending a charity event on Thursday, standing next to more than a dozen boxes of activewear P.E Nation had donated to the social enterprise Thread Together.