Let Lady Whistledown know: the diamond of the season is still very much in love. Simone Ashley, who plays the enchanting Kate Sharma in Bridgerton has shared new photographs with boyfriend Constantin ‘Tito’ Klein, a former lawyer with ties to the ultra-glamorous racing world.
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Simone Ashley, 28 – who landed her breakout role in Netflix cult hit Sex Education – confirmed her budding romance with the dashing Klein in a loved-up Instagram post earlier this year. The black and white snap, captured by celebrity photographer Greg Williams, shows the pair sharing a moment at a BAFTAs after-party in London in February. It comes following weeks of speculation surrounding the status of their relationship which reached fever pitch when she planted a kiss on Klein’s cheek in front of the cameras at the glitzy awards ceremony.
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The couple met last May at the Monaco Grand Prix: an annual gathering of A-listers, aristos and jet-set entrepreneurs. In an interview with British Vogue in November, Ashley revealed she was ‘very happy’ with her boyfriend but did not disclose his identity. ‘We’re having those conversations about how we can get there before anyone else does,’ she said.
More recently, the couple joined a group for a day of hiking, with Ashley’s brother on hand to capture the moment. The actress shared a slideshow of stunning images on her Instagram account, writing: ‘Hiking to waterfalls.’ Although she did not tag Klein, eagle-eyed followers were quick to identify her dashing beau. One wrote: ‘You and Tino are the best duo’. Another added: ‘How wonderful you both are. The cutest.’
The handsome Klein, who is fluent in French and German and has ‘conversational’ Spanish, prefers to keep a low-profile. Fans were excited when they spotted Ashley with the tall, dark and handsome figure at the JACQUEMUS show in June. Then, Bridgerton enthusiasts (there are thousands) were sent into a frenzy when he appeared on her Instagram twice in quick succession in December: a surprise birthday party (for him) and a romantic getaway to a snowy destination.
Klein studied Law at King’s College London (receiving a prestigious prize in the process), before completing his qualification at BPP Law School and Queen Mary University of London. In 2013, Klein joined Debevoise and Plimpton LLP as a trainee solicitor and completed a secondment in Hong Kong. In 2020, after rising to the rank of associate, Klein, a self-confessed ‘petrolhead’ left law to join GP Ice Race. The haven for motorsports enthusiasts sees amateurs and professional drivers gather to race cars on an icy track at the old airport in Zell am See, Austria, the home of the Porsche family. Ferdi Porsche, grandson of founder Ferdinand ‘Ferry’ Porsche, is a co-founder.
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Sadly, this year’s meet, due to be held on the last weekend of January, had to be cancelled due to warm weather. ‘We are beyond disappointed,’ Klein said in a statement at the time. ‘In particular, since we had been looking forward to seeing the fans again after two years without spectators. This event runs on passion. But there is no sense in forcing something through despite clear facts.’ However, there is plenty on the horizon. Next, according to his LinkedIn account is a new restaurant and ‘meeting spot’, due to open on the famed Grossglockner High Alpine Road this spring.
Klein’s business might be all about sub-zero temperatures but his love life is certainly hotting up (just don’t let Anthony Bridgerton know).
