Tom Daley's Family: All About His Husband Dustin Lance Black and Their Kids

Tom Daley has a great support system in his family.

The British diver, who recently won her fifth Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is married to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.

The couple began dating in 2013 — the same year Daley came out as bisexual in a YouTube video — and eventually tied the knot in 2017 at Bovey Castle in Devon, England, not far from the athlete’s hometown of Plymouth.

They have since started a family together, welcoming two sons via surrogate, Robbie, born in June 2018, and Phoenix, born in March 2023.

After the 2024 Summer Olympics, Daley announced his retirement from diving. “It’s hard to talk about, it’s emotional. But you know, I’ll have to end it at some point,” he told the BBC, adding: “I want to be with my family.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Daley and Black’s marriage and children.

They met for the first time at dinner

Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley at GQ London Fashion Week.

David M. Bennett/Dave Bennett/Getty

Daley and Black’s relationship dates back to 2013 when they first met at a dinner party. At the time, Daley had just won his first Olympic medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

In March 2021, Daley celebrated their 8 year anniversary with a carousel of their photos. “8 years ago we met for dinner, we lived on opposite sides of the pond and we thought it would be impossible to make it work… but we did!” he wrote at the time “So grateful for all the memories, almost 4 years of marriage and our precious son, Robbie! I love you xxx.”

Black shared his dedication on Instagram, writing: “8 YEARS of adventures, blurry naps, endless nights, sore faces from smiling, laughing, exhaustion from night feedings, baby tears. Family. Thank you for every minute my warrior monkey prince 🐸❤️ 🐵.”

Tom and Dustin proposed to each other

Talking to Out magazine, Daley and Black recalled the sweet story behind their engagement. Black explained that he originally planned to propose to Daley during a trip to America, but ended up changing his mind because he wanted the place to propose to be somewhere more convenient.

“I thought, This is not what I want my proposal to be, because I want it to be somewhere more ordinary, a place where we can take our kids one day and say, Hey, that’s where your dad and I got engaged.. We’re flying back to London, and I’m like, OK, game on, it’s my turn“, Black explained – although the proposal continues to be delayed by further obstacles.

Eventually they returned home where Daley surprised him by popping the question. “I had the ring box in my underwear, and when he came out of the bathroom, I just got down on one knee and proposed to him,” Daley recalled. “Then he ran into the bathroom to get his rings, and he had this whole speech prepared, but he’s a writer so his was quite extravagant. But looking back, all I remember is being completely devastated, like, oh my god, we’re engaged now. Who do we have to call? So I called my mom, and he called his stepfather.”

They announced the engagement in the newspaper

Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black at the 2023 BRIT Awards.

David M. Bennett/Dave Bennett/Getty

After the engagement, they announced the news in the traditional way: their engagement was published in the Births, Deaths and Marriages section of a London newspaper. The Times in October 2015.

The announcement read: “Announcing the engagement of Tom, son of Robert and Debra Daley of Plymouth, and Lance, son of Jeff Bisch of Philadelphia and Anna Bisch of Lake Providence.”

They got married in the castle

Two years after announcing their engagement, the couple tied the knot on May 6, 2017, at Bovey Castle in Devon, England — located about 30 miles outside of Daley’s hometown of Plymouth.

A few days after their wedding, Daley revealed the news on Instagram, sharing a photo from the ceremony. “On May 6th, 2017 I married the love of my life, @dlanceblack ❤️,” he wrote alongside a photo of them walking down the aisle. “We shared the day with 120 of our closest friends and family, from Texarkana to Plymouth! Thank you to everyone who made this weekend the most special weekend of our lives!”

Their first born son was named after Tom’s late father

Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black with their sons at a 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers game.

Meg Oliphant/Getty

On June 27, 2018, Daley and Black became parents for the first time, having a son, Robert “Robbie” Ray, via surrogate. The nickname has special meaning for Daley because Robert was the first name of his late father, who died in 2011, and it is also Daley’s middle name.

That month, the couple saw their baby boy for the first time in a black-and-white photo of them holding Robbie. “Welcome to the world little Robbie Ray,” Black wrote in the caption of the post. “Thank you for bringing so much love and light with you. And thank you to those who helped turn our dream of having a family into this beautiful reality. ❤️”

They welcomed their two sons through a surrogate mother

After the birth of Robbie, the couple welcomed their second child, son Phoenix Rose, on March 28, 2023. Like Robbie, Phoenix was born via surrogate.

During the interview with The Telegraph in September 2018, he opened up about their son Robbie being born via surrogate, noting that neither of them knew who his biological father was.

“It’s going to go on forever and ever,” Daley said of speculation about which one bears the greater resemblance. “But one thing we really strive for is that we don’t want to know. He is ours.”

“I don’t think we’ll ever hide anything from him, in fact I know we won’t,” Black added. “It’s not just our instincts, it’s listening to the advice of people born through surrogacy. They say: ‘The things that bothered me were the things they didn’t tell me. The things they told me don’t bother me.’ ”

Dustin and their sons cheered Tom on at the Olympics

Tom Daley’s mom, Debbie Daley, Dustin Lance Black and his sons at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Clive Rose/Getty

Daley won silver at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the men’s 10m. For a special event, he had the support of his wife and children who cheered him on from the stands.

Black sat with Daley’s mother and the couple’s two sons, who were wearing adorable “Team Daley” t-shirts emblazoned with their father’s face. Talking to BBC SportBlack opened up about Daley’s special achievement and his children being there for the honor.

“I saw the amount of work and love that he put into it this time. It was on another level. And I know it’s because of these guys and them being able to see him diving today was so special just coming here.” , Black said.

“And the fact that he’s just won a medal he’s never won before. God, what a day,” he added. “What a day. It’s very touching for the family as we see the hard work and dedication that has gone into making him look effortless and that’s what he and [diving partner Noah Williams] did today. That’s why we’re so proud.”

Shortly after the Olympics ended, Daley announced his retirement from the sport.

“I think the time is right,” he told the BBC. “I have to compete in front of my family, my kids and I have to be the flag bearer. The bucket list is checked at every opportunity.”

Their son Robbie is already a naturist in the water

Daley and Black could have a little diver on their hands. The Olympian shared a few moments from his and Black’s family, including his son Robbie’s interest in swimming.

In September 2020, Daley posted a photo of the father-son pair together underwater, calling Robbie his “little water baby”. Daley continued: “The feeling of being underwater with your son is so MAGICAL! (Especially since his dad is a bit of a water baby himself 😂).”

A year later, he posted an adorable photo of himself holding hands with Robbie on the high diving board at the London Aquatic Center at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He pointed out that his son’s height did not bother him at all. “Dad: It’s high here, isn’t it?! 😬,” Daley said, to which his son replied, “A little, but not really!”

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Source: HIS Education