Los Angeles is buzzing with excitement as rock legend Keith Richards, the iconic guitarist of The Rolling Stones, prepares to embrace a new family milestone. At 82 years old, Richards is on the verge of becoming a great-grandfather for the first time, thanks to his model granddaughter Ella Richards.
Ella, 29, shared the joyful news on Instagram with a striking black-and-white photo showcasing her baby bump. She and her boyfriend, photographer Sasha von Bismarck, are expecting their first child in the coming months. This announcement marks a historic moment for the Richards family, propelling Keith into great-grandpa status.
Ella is the daughter of Marlon Richards and Lucy Dylan, with Marlon being Keith’s son from his long-term relationship with the late model and actress Anita Pallenberg, who passed away at 75. The family ties run deep in rock royalty, and this pregnancy adds another chapter to their storied legacy.
Ella and Sasha have been together for several years, going public with their relationship in early 2023. In a Tatler magazine interview tied to a cover shoot photographed by Sasha, Ella described their connection as effortless. ‘It felt very natural having him shoot me; it’s such an intimate thing,’ she shared.
The news has sparked congratulations from fashion and entertainment circles. Models Stella Maxwell, Jade Parfitt, and Poppy Delevingne were quick to send their best wishes on social media. Meanwhile, among The Rolling Stones, Sir Mick Jagger remains the only member already a great-grandfather, having earned the title in 2014 when his granddaughter Assisi Jackson welcomed her first child.
Sasha hails from a prominent German aristocratic family. He is the younger brother of photographer Count Nikolai von Bismarck, whose past romance with model Kate Moss is well-known. Their parents, businessman Count Leopold von Bismarck-Schoenhausen and fashion designer Countess Debora von Bismarck, are fixtures in London’s fashion scene, with Debora being a friend of Kate Moss.
The von Bismarck lineage traces back to Otto von Bismarck, the 19th-century statesman who unified Germany. This blend of rock aristocracy and European nobility underscores the fascinating intersections in Ella and Sasha’s world. As the baby arrives, Keith Richards’ family tree continues to grow, blending music history with high society.