Annie Kilner and Kyle Walker have welcomed their fifth child together. The former model and Burnley FC star confirmed the news in a social media post, asking fans to respect their privacy after the news leaked before their official announcement. "Our precious baby girl is here safe. Speechless with the amount of love we all feel and the joy she's already brought to our family," Kilner wrote on Instagram Stories.
She added: "Would have liked to enjoy our private family time together for a bit longer, but we know news travels fast." The couple then requested privacy: "Hoping now we have announced our special news, everyone respects our request for privacy as we enjoy these special moments. Thank you for everyone who has supported us with well wishes for the pregnancy and birth."
“Annie Kilner and Kyle Walker welcome fifth child, a baby girl; couple request privacy after news leaked.”
The birth marks the couple's first daughter; Kilner revealed in February that they were expecting a girl, writing defiantly at the time: "We're delighted to be expecting our baby girl. I won't be entertaining any speculation or drama around such a personal, private and happy moment for me and my family!"
A source told The Sun that Walker was by Kilner's side throughout: "Kyle and Annie are over the moon to have welcomed a little girl into the family home. Kyle didn't leave Annie's side, they are just on cloud nine ready to begin this new chapter." The source added that the couple now feels their family is "whole".
The newborn joins siblings Roman, 11, Riaan, seven, Reign, five, and Rezon, one. Walker, who met Kilner as teenagers in Sheffield, is also father to two children with influencer Lauryn Goodman, bringing his total to seven.
The pregnancy had reportedly brought the couple closer. Another source told The Sun during the pregnancy: "Kyle and Annie are in such a good place, and this baby has brought them even closer together. This baby is already bringing them so much joy, not only as a couple but as a family. Their boys are thrilled. Annie is a devoted mum, and she is so excited to be bringing another child into the world. For her and Kyle, this baby feels very much like it was meant to be."
Now, with their baby girl safe and home, the family asks to be left alone to enjoy their private moments — a request that acknowledges the difficulty of keeping such news contained in the age of instant leaks.