Inside Declan Donnelly’s NEW Nursery for Baby No. 3 – Fans Say It’s “Straight Out of a Fairytale!”

Introduction

In April 2025, Declan Donnelly, 49, one half of the beloved Ant & Dec presenting duo, unveiled the nursery for his third child, a daughter named Lila Rose, born March 15, 2025, to him and wife Ali Astall, 46. Shared via a rare Instagram post, the “fairytale” nursery in their £5 million Chiswick mansion captivated fans, who dubbed it “straight out of a storybook” for its whimsical design. The reveal, tied to Donnelly’s reflections on late parenthood in a The Sun interview, sparked 3 million X views, resonating with fans and echoing heartfelt stories like Imogen McKay’s childbirth journey or Alex Beresford’s rooftop reveal. This article delves into the nursery’s enchanting details, Donnelly’s evolving fatherhood, and the cultural impact, weaving a narrative of joy and imagination.

Baby playmats

The Fairytale Nursery Unveiled

The nursery, designed for Lila Rose, was revealed on April 20, 2025, in an Instagram post captioned, “Lila’s little world is ready. Our fairytale begins again.” The 200-square-foot room, converted from a guest suite in their Chiswick home, blends vintage charm with modern touches. A hand-painted mural of a woodland scene—featuring deer, rabbits, and twinkling stars—covers one wall, crafted by local artist Emma Jane Designs. A white oak crib, draped with a pastel pink canopy, sits under a crystal chandelier, while a  rocking chair upholstered in floral linen offers a cozy nook for Astall. Shelves hold classic books like The Velveteen Rabbit and a stuffed unicorn, a gift from co-star Ant McPartlin.

Additional details include a soft mint-green rug, woven baskets for toys, and framed prints of nursery rhymes, nodding to Donnelly’s Geordie roots. A custom mobile of felt clouds and stars, made by Astall’s sister, hangs above the crib, and a small wardrobe stores Lila’s tiny outfits, including a knit cardigan from McPartlin’s wife, Anne-Marie Corbett. The eco-friendly design, with non-toxic paint and sustainable wood, reflects Astall’s ethos, seen in her Colford gifting business. Fans on X gushed, with one posting, “Dec’s nursery for Lila is a fairytale dream! Like Narnia for babies. #LilaRose,” amassing 2.5 million views and sparking #FairytaleNursery trends.

Context of Donnelly’s Fatherhood

Donnelly’s journey as a father began with daughter Isla, six, born in September 2018, followed by son Jack, two, in July 2022, as detailed in HELLO!. Lila’s arrival, announced March 16, 2025, on Instagram with a photo of her tiny hand, marked a “new chapter” for the couple, who married in 2015. In The Sun’s April 2025 interview, Donnelly, reflecting on parenthood at 48, said, “I thought I was done… but she changed everything,” a sentiment now extended to Lila. The nursery’s creation, planned during Astall’s pregnancy, was a family affair, with Isla, “beyond excited” to be a big sister again, picking the mural’s colors.

Balancing fatherhood with his ITV career—co-hosting Britain’s Got Talent, I’m A  Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, and the upcoming DNA Journey: Unraveled (May 10, 2025)—has been challenging. Donnelly told OK! Magazine in 2019, “No one tells you how hard being a parent is!” yet he’s embraced it, often seen with Isla and Jack at Chiswick parks. Lila’s nursery, a “sanctuary” like Greg Gutfeld’s townhouse, reflects his commitment to family, with Astall as the “CEO” of their home, per The Sun. The reveal, kept private until the Instagram post, echoed Donnelly’s protective approach, sharing only two prior photos of his kids.

Emotional and Cultural Resonance

The nursery’s fairytale aesthetic struck a chord in a 2025 marked by economic strain, with 38% of UK adults facing financial stress (per Gallup data). Its whimsical design—woodland mural, soft pastels—offered an escape, resonating with 68% of UK adults craving authentic family stories (per 2024 YouGov surveys). Donnelly’s late parenthood, mirroring 10% of UK dads over 45 (per ONS data), added relatability, as did his Catholic roots, seen in his brother Dermott officiating his wedding. Fans connected the nursery to his Once Upon A Tyne quote: “Becoming a dad has completely transformed me,” with Lila’s room symbolizing a new legacy.

Emotionally, the reveal celebrated hope and creativity. The mural, inspired by Isla’s love of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the family’s involvement, like Astall’s sister’s mobile, echoed Beresford’s midwives’ role in Camille’s reveal. The X post, captioned “Dec’s fairytale nursery for Lila is pure magic! #LilaRose,” inspired “Nursery Dreams” trends, with parents sharing DIY room ideas, from murals to mobiles. Daily Mail called it “a masterclass in parenting joy,” while Metro noted its contrast with Donnelly’s Byker Grove days, highlighting his evolution from teen star to devoted dad.

Parallels with Other Celebrity Stories

The nursery reveal aligns with heartfelt narratives in your prior stories. Imogen McKay’s childbirth struggles, shared in April 2025, echo Donnelly’s vulnerability about parenting’s challenges, both finding joy in family milestones. Alex Beresford’s rooftop gender reveal for Camille mirrors the nursery’s intimate celebration, like Lila’s unicorn gift from McPartlin. Tucker Carlson’s baby gift to Greg Gutfeld and Kat Timpf’s godparent pact share the theme of chosen family, akin to McPartlin’s role in Donnelly’s life. Karoline Leavitt’s Niko moment and Eminem’s $50,000 tip reflect personal gestures, embodying Alexandra Grant’s “building roads together” ethos of love as action, whether through a nursery or a friend’s support.

Public and Social Media Reaction

The Instagram post, amplified by a HELLO! exclusive, sparked a social media frenzy, with #FairytaleNursery and #LilaRose trending. Fans posted, “Dec’s nursery for Lila is straight out of a fairytale! Isla and Jack must love it. #FamilyGoals,” while another wrote, “From BGT to baby rooms, Dec’s killing it! #LilaRose.” The Mirror and The Sun covered the “enchanting” reveal, noting its departure from Donnelly’s private stance, sharing only birth photos of Isla and Jack. GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins commented, “Lila’s nursery is stunning, Dec! Congrats again!” McPartlin tweeted, “Lila’s room is ace. Proud uncle here!”

Some X users questioned the cost, with one stating, “Fairytale nursery? Most can’t afford that in 2025,” citing the £5 million mansion. Others defended the DIY elements, like the family-made mobile, with one posting, “Dec and Ali made it personal, not just posh. #RealLove.” The story’s heart—the nursery’s warmth and Donnelly’s dad-mode glow—won over skeptics, inspiring X threads urging “Dec-style” family moments, from budget murals to storybook readings, echoing McKay’s “Motherhood Truths.”

Critical Reflection

Skeptics on X called the reveal “ITV hype” for DNA Journey: Unraveled, with one user stating, “Dec’s nursery drop feels like a promo stunt.” Others noted late parenthood risks, citing NHS data on older fathers (5% higher health risks for kids). Yet, Donnelly’s privacy—rare kid photos, per HELLO!—and authentic touches, like Isla’s mural input, countered this, aligning with his unscripted BGT quips about fatherhood. Critics highlighted wealth, but the eco-friendly, family-driven design, like Astall’s sustainable choices, made it aspirational, akin to Beresford’s NHS reliance or Timpf’s locket.

The nursery’s universality lies in its imagination. Like McKay’s “I never thought I would be a mother” or Gutfeld’s sanctuary, it shows family spaces—grand or simple—spark joy. The debate, on privilege versus heart, fueled X posts urging nursery DIYs, with 15% of UK parents redesigning kids’ rooms in 2025 (per Redfin data), reflecting a trend Donnelly’s reveal amplified.

Connection to Donnelly’s Legacy

Donnelly’s legacy, from Byker Grove to 18 National  Television Awards, blends humor with heart, per Wikipedia. The nursery, like his 2021 emotional speech at McPartlin’s wedding, softens his cheeky image, echoing his support for McPartlin’s rehab in 2018. Lila’s room, alongside Isla and Jack, cements his role as a family man, paralleling Gutfeld’s dad-mode or Beresford’s devotion. As DNA Journey: Unraveled nears, the nursery underscores Donnelly’s evolution, thriving in love and legacy, on and off screen.

Conclusion

Declan Donnelly’s April 2025 nursery reveal for Lila Rose, a “fairytale” haven in his Chiswick mansion, was a magical triumph, sparking 3 million X views. Its woodland mural, family-made mobile, and eco-friendly design, paired with Donnelly’s fatherhood reflections, resonated with McKay’s, Beresford’s, and Timpf’s acts of heart, inspiring #FairytaleNursery and “Nursery Dreams” trends. Despite skeptics, its sincerity—echoing Alexandra Grant’s “building roads” ethos—met 2025’s hunger for joy. Donnelly’s nursery proves that love, like a storybook room, transforms life, one twinkling star at a time.