You’ve probably seen the headlines. The blurry paparazzi shots of a young boy in a Spider-Man costume or the rare, tearful shout-outs from a Las Vegas stage. But when you look at the relationship between Adele and Angelo, her now thirteen-year-old son, it’s not really a "celebrity" story at all. It’s actually a pretty intense study in how to protect a kid when your voice is one of the most famous sounds on the planet.
Honestly, Adele has been weirdly—and impressively—consistent about this. She isn't just "private." She’s fiercely protective.
There was that time back in 2014 when she literally sued a photo agency for taking pictures of Angelo during his first family outing. She won, by the way. A five-figure settlement was put into a trust for him. That set the tone early on: Angelo Adkins isn't public property.
The Divorce That Wasn't a "Split"
Most people assume that when a massive star like Adele gets a divorce, it’s going to be a scorched-earth situation. We expect the lawyers, the "sources say" drama, and the messy assets battle.
With Adele and her ex-husband Simon Konecki, it was the opposite.
When they finalized things in 2021, the world waited for the fallout. Instead, we got a mediation where they both waived spousal support. They decided to share joint legal and physical custody of Angelo. They didn't even use a typical "Hollywood" legal team to fight it out. They sat in a room and worked it out for the sake of the kid.
Adele famously told British Vogue that she wanted to be the one to stop the "bloody patterns" of broken families. She didn't want a messy divorce. "Over my dead body," she said. And she meant it.
Living Across the Street
For a while, they actually lived across the street from each other in Los Angeles. Think about that for a second. Most of us can barely handle seeing an ex at a grocery store, but Adele and Simon stayed close enough that Angelo could basically walk between houses.
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This proximity wasn't for the fans. It was because Angelo needed to see a "united front." Even now in 2026, as Angelo enters his teenage years, that foundation of stability remains the core of their co-parenting dynamic.
Why 30 Was Really a Letter to Angelo
If you listen to the album 30, you’re not just hearing a breakup record. You’re hearing a mother trying to explain herself to her son.
The track "My Little Love" is probably the most raw thing she’s ever released. It includes actual voice notes of Adele talking to a much younger Angelo. You can hear her voice cracking, trying to explain why she isn't "with" his dad anymore.
- "I love your dad 'cause he gave you to me."
- "I'm having a bad day, I'm feeling very anxious."
- "I feel like you don't like me."
Those snippets weren't just filler. Adele has been very open about the fact that she wrote that album so that when Angelo is 20 or 30, he can listen to it and understand who his mother was during that time. She felt like she couldn't answer his simple questions—like "Why can't we still live together?"—in real-time. So, she put the answers in the music.
Life in the "Peanut" Gallery
Despite the fame, Angelo’s life is surprisingly grounded. Adele often calls him "Peanut" or "my little lion."
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During her "Weekends with Adele" residency in Las Vegas, which finally wrapped up after an epic run, she’d give the audience little updates. She’s mentioned that he’s "savvy" and "more opinionated" than she was at his age.
When he turned 11, she joked on stage about how she refused to buy him some insanely expensive gift he wanted. She told him, "You're 11, shouldn't we be having a tea party still?" It turns out, even if your mom is worth $200 million, you're still getting told "no" when you ask for something too flashy.
The Rich Paul Factor
The dynamic has changed slightly as Adele’s relationship with sports agent Rich Paul has become a permanent fixture. But even here, the focus is on the kids. Rich has three children of his own, and Adele has spoken about the idea of having more children in the future.
What’s interesting is how Simon Konecki fits into this. He’s been spotted at her shows, sometimes sitting right near Rich Paul. There’s no "Step-Dad vs. Bio-Dad" drama here. It’s just one big, slightly unconventional, very wealthy family.
Navigating the Teenage Years in 2026
As of 2026, Angelo is officially a teenager. That brings a whole new set of challenges for a global superstar.
Adele has moved away from the constant touring cycle. She’s made it clear that her "residency" era was partly about being home for her son. She didn't want to be on a plane every night while he was trying to navigate middle school.
There are a few things that keep their relationship so tight:
- Strict Privacy: You won't find Angelo on her Instagram. Ever.
- No "Stage Parent" Vibes: She isn't pushing him into the industry. If he wants to be a musician, he’ll have to do it on his own terms.
- Honesty: She talks to him like a person. She’s admitted that she doesn't hide her emotions from him. If she’s sad, he knows she’s sad.
The Biggest Misconception
People think Angelo is this "hidden" child because they don't see him. But if you talk to people in their inner circle, he’s everywhere. He’s backstage. He’s at the rehearsals. He’s just not in the frame.
Adele is basically proving that you can be the biggest artist in the world and still give your kid a normal-ish upbringing. It just takes a lot of legal fees and a very disciplined approach to the media.
She doesn't want him to be "Adele's son." She wants him to be Angelo.
What We Can Learn from Their Dynamic
If you're looking for the "secret sauce" in how they've handled the spotlight, it comes down to boundaries.
- The Power of "No": Adele says no to the press regarding her son constantly.
- The Mutual Respect Pact: She and Simon decided early on that they would never speak ill of each other publicly.
- Vulnerability over Perfection: By showing Angelo her struggles (and recording them for millions to hear), she took away the pressure of him needing to be "perfect" too.
To see how this plays out next, keep an eye on Adele's future project choices. She has already hinted that her next chapter involves a lot more "living" and a lot less "working." For Angelo, that means more time with his mom and less time sharing her with the world.
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To better understand the evolution of this family dynamic, you can look back at the 30 interview with Oprah Winfrey or the Desert Island Discs episode where Adele goes into detail about her "over my dead body" approach to divorce. Both offer a rare look at the woman behind the voice—the one who is just trying to be a good mom to a kid named Angelo.
Next Steps for You
- Listen to "My Little Love" again, but this time, focus strictly on the dialogue at the end. It changes how you hear the melody.
- Look into the charity work of Simon Konecki (Drop4Drop). It gives you a much better idea of the kind of person Adele chose to raise a child with.
- Research the 2014 privacy ruling in the UK regarding celebrity children; it was a landmark case that changed how the British press treats the kids of stars.