Deliciously Ella names baby after late mother-in-law, Dame Tessa Jowell

Food blogger and entrepreneur describes birth as 'most powerful, surreal, totally extraordinary moment'

Olivia Petter
Monday 29 July 2019 11:00 BST
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(Getty Images)

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Ella Mills has named her first child after her husband Matthew’s late mother, Dame Tessa Jowell.

The food blogger-turned-entrepreneur, known as Deliciously Ella, shared the news with her 1.6 million followers on Instagram, revealing that her newborn daughter’s full name is Skye Tessa Camilla Davan Mills.

Mills posted a photograph of herself and Matthew cradling Skye, revealing that she’d given birth at home on Saturday.

“Born in the pool at home yesterday afternoon. The most powerful, surreal, totally extraordinary moment,” the 28-year-old wrote in the caption.

“Beyond grateful to my husband for being a hero, the best support I could have ever imagined, our midwife and doula for making us feel so safe and supported and @kghypnobirthing for the inspiration, wisdom and guidance she shared, which empowered us more than I can explain.”

Mills added in a subsequent post that she hasn’t slept since giving birth but has “never ever been happier”.

The couple welcomed their newborn 14 months after Jowell died at the age of 70.

The former cabinet minister died of a brain haemorrhage in May 2018, one year after she had been diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme brain tumour.

Following the news that Mills had given birth, The Brain Tumour Charity congratulated the couple on Twitter and described their tribute to Jowell as “moving”.

Jowell was Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood and held the role of culture secretary between 2001 and 2007. She was credited for being the driving force behind the London 2012 Olympics.

In May, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan unveiled a walkway dedicated to Jowell in Olympic Park, dubbed “Tessa Jowell Boulevard”.

At the time, Kahn said: "Tessa was a hugely respected figure in London and national politics and was the driving force that brought the 2012 Games to the capital. She was a friend, and someone who was as dynamic and talented as she was kind-spirited and generous.”

Kahn added that British politics is a “poorer place” without Jowell’s “energy and expertise”

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