Actress Michelle Keegan offered fans a charmingly honest glimpse into family life during a luxurious winter holiday in Abu Dhabi with her husband, Mark Wright, and their baby daughter, Palma.
Glamorous Getaway Meets Real Parenting
The 38-year-old star, known for roles in Coronation Street and Netflix's Fool Me Once, initially shared a picture-perfect snap from a romantic dinner date with her former TOWIE star husband. The couple were staying at the opulent Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island hotel, which commands rates of around £2,000 per night.
In the photo, Michelle looked stunning in a white puff-sleeved dress with a V-neckline, her brunette hair styled in a neat up-do as she beamed for the camera on Saturday. However, a follow-up post on her Instagram Stories quickly presented the 'actual reality' of the evening.
The 'Actual Reality' of a Family Meal
A second photo revealed that their dinner was a full family affair, including their nine-month-old daughter, Palma. The little one was pictured with her hands in the air, happily eating raspberries while being entertained by the popular children's YouTube star, Ms. Rachel.
Michelle humorously captioned the scene: 'The actual reality of coming out for a meal with a baby. Thank you Ms. Rachel for adding to the ambience.' This candid moment resonated with many parents, contrasting the glamorous first image with the joyful chaos of parenting a young child.
Doting Motherhood in the Sun
Throughout the sun-soaked getaway, Michelle embraced her role as a doting mother. In another Instagram clip, she joked about her 'new normal' on holiday. The actress, sporting a brown straw cowboy hat, tinted shades, a white linen shirt, and minimalist gold jewellery, was seen using her foot to rock Palma's pram in the shade.
She wrote alongside the video: 'My new normal on holiday. Shade, find a quiet place, cramp in foot from rocking, forget my headphones.' The couple, who tied the knot in 2015, welcomed their first child together in March 2025.
Grandmother Carol's Verdict on Babysitting
The holiday follows recent revelations from Mark Wright's mother, Carol, about babysitting her granddaughter. Speaking on the family podcast Wright At Home with her daughters Natalya, 25, and Jess, 40, the 65-year-old grandmother shared her experience.
Carol described Palma as a delight, telling her daughters: 'I took Palma shopping the other day and she is just so good, she just loves to be noisy, busy, shopping.' Jess echoed this sentiment, exclaiming: 'It is not normal how amazing that child is, it is not normal.'
During the podcast, Carol also opened up about her thoughtful approach to being a mother-in-law to Michelle. She explained she consciously holds back to avoid being overpowering, stating: 'I always think that when the girl comes into our family it's quite they feel a bit overpowering to so many of us, so I seem to be like I hold back a bit.' Jess was quick to defend her mother against any 'evil mother-in-law' narrative, confirming Carol is the opposite.
The family's Abu Dhabi escape beautifully blended luxury with the relatable, heartwarming realities of early parenthood, endearing the couple further to their fans.
