In a delightful turn for one of rock’s enduring icons, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones is poised to welcome his first great-grandchild. The 82-year-old guitar virtuoso’s granddaughter, model Ella Richards, revealed her pregnancy with boyfriend Sasha von Bismarck, setting the stage for family celebrations ahead.
The announcement came via Ella’s Instagram, featuring a poignant black-and-white image of her cradling her growing baby bump. At 29, Ella is stepping into motherhood, making her grandfather Keith a great-grandpa in the process—a first for the legendary musician.
Daughter to Keith’s son Marlon and Lucy Dylan, Ella carries forward a lineage linked to the late Anita Pallenberg, Marlon’s mother and Keith’s longtime partner. Pallenberg, a model and actress, left an indelible mark on the rock world before her death at 75.
Ella’s relationship with Sasha, a talented photographer, has been a steady presence. They confirmed their romance publicly in 2023, with Ella praising Sasha’s intuitive photography during her Tatler cover feature. ‘Being photographed by him is incredibly comfortable; it’s deeply personal,’ she noted.
Celebrity well-wishes poured in, including from supermodels Stella Maxwell, Jade Parfitt, and Poppy Delevingne. Interestingly, Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger beat Keith to great-grandfatherhood in 2014 via his granddaughter Assisi Jackson, daughter of jewelry designer Jade Jagger.
Sasha’s background adds glamour: younger brother to Count Nikolai von Bismarck (ex of Kate Moss), son of Count Leopold and Countess Debora von Bismarck. Debora is a prominent London fashion designer and Moss confidante. The family descends from Otto von Bismarck, architect of modern Germany.
This pregnancy unites rock ‘n’ roll heritage with aristocratic roots, promising a child born into extraordinary circumstances. Keith Richards, ever the survivor of rock’s wild years, now looks forward to cradling his great-grandchild, a testament to life’s enduring rhythms.