Beyoncé and Jay Z's love story - From secret relationship to expecting twins

Beyoncé and Jay Z will celebrate nine years of marriage this year - and they've got a lot to be happy about after announcing they're expecting twins.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2008, have just announced the pregnancy.

Queen Bey took to Instagram to post a picture of her pregnant belly.

Alongside it she wrote: "We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. - The Carters".

The couple already have five-year-old daughter Blue Ivy together.

After hearing the happy news, we've taken a look back over their love story, from their secret relationship to their publicly-celebrated romance.

After their loved-up displays and speculation about their future, where did it all begin for the king and queen of hip-hop?

Shawn Corey Carter and Beyoncé Giselle Knowles first clapped eyes on each other in 2001 but it wasn't until a year later, when they collaborated on hit track Bonnie & Clyde, that sparks really started to fly. Bey was still a teen at the time - Jay was 12 years her senior.

“I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we started dating. There was no rush. No one expected me to run off and get married,” the pop stunner later said.

And that's exactly what they did - took it slow and built a friendship before falling in love.

“We were friends first, for a year and a half, before we went on any date, [we were] on the phone for a year and a half. And that foundation is so important in a relationship. And just to have someone that you just like, is so important. And someone that is honest."

Following the release of Bonnie & Clyde it wasn't long before rumours that the couple were involved romantically began whirling around, though they always remained tight-lipped about any romance - and would do so for years.

But despite never publicly acknowledging they were lovers, they regularly popped up courtside at various basketball matches, fashion shows and other fancy A-list events.

It wasn't until 2004 that they made their very first red carpet debut as a pair at the MTV Video Music Awards in scary matching outfits they've probably tried to erase all memory of.

Understandably, the world went a little bit wild about it all.

In 2007 the Drunk In Love singer stepped out with a whopper of a sparkler – a $5million, 18-carat Lorraine Schwartz-designed whopper to be precise - on her engagement ring finger. And again, the world got very excited.

They then tied the knot in a private ceremony at their Tribeca home in April2008. Cue mega-million pound magazine deals to add to their already enormous fortune? Not for these two.

A year later in 2009 Forbes ranked the savvy business duo as Hollywood's top-earning couple. The lovers and savvy business duo also made more than any other celebrity couple last year
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In 2010, after years of tours, features films, and hit records, Beyoncé announced she wanted to take a break to focus on hubby Jay, while also hinting that she was keen to start popping out little mini Jay and Beys soon.

“I did it for my sanity, my life, my relationships, my nephew, my husband, my sister and my friendships,” she said of her career break. “I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be."

Seven years after they made the red carpet debut at the MTV VMAs, they were back with some other very exciting news – the singer was expecting the couple's first child.

Glowing in a floor-skimming red gown, the mum-to-be proudly showed off her growing baby bump to snappers - and Twitter exploded.

Bey's bump even broke the social media site's record for most related tweets per second.
Later she said: “I didn't want a crazy picture or gossip story to break the news, so I decided to say nothing and proudly show my baby bump.”

Following the baby news the pair gradually grew more and more comfortable with PDAs. They were even spotted on double dates with high-profile pals Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow. And since the birth of their first bubba Blue Ivy Carter in January 2012 in New York, the once notoriously private pair have become even more open about their love for one another.

In an official statement released after Blue's birth, the rapper and Bey announced: “Her birth was emotional and extrememely peaceful, we are in heaven. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.”

In late 2013 the singer then surprised the world with a visual album and also released a string of video features where she spoke candidly about home life for the very first time.

In one clip she declared: “Nothing feels like my child singing “mummy”. No, nothing feels like when I look my husband in the eyes, nothings feels like when I'm respected, when I get on the stage and I see I'm changing people's lives.”

And as she took her sell-out Mrs. Carter World Tour around the globe, she continued to treat us all to an intimate look at family life with a steady stream of candid behind-the-scenes pictures of the pair stealing smooches and gazing lovingly at each other.

Meanwhile Jay was making his own public declarations of love. When he picked up his Grammy for Holy Grail, the Justin Timberlake collaboration, he pointed to his wife in the crowd and said, “I want to thank God, I mean a little for this award, but mostly for that and all the universes for conspiring and putting that beautiful light of a young woman in my life.”

In one clip she declared: “Nothing feels like my child singing “mummy”. No, nothing feels like when I look my husband in the eyes, nothings feels like when I'm respected, when I get on the stage and I see I'm changing people's lives.”

And as she took her sell-out Mrs. Carter World Tour around the globe, she continued to treat us all to an intimate look at family life with a steady stream of candid behind-the-scenes pictures of the pair stealing smooches and gazing lovingly at each other.

Meanwhile Jay was making his own public declarations of love. When he picked up his Grammy for Holy Grail, the Justin Timberlake collaboration, he pointed to his wife in the crowd and said, “I want to thank God, I mean a little for this award, but mostly for that and all the universes for conspiring and putting that beautiful light of a young woman in my life.”

Moments later he gave a shout-out to his mini bundle of joy: “And I want to tell Blue that look, Daddy got a gold sippy cup for you!”

By 2014 rumours of a family feud hit the headlines after incredible footage emerged showing Jay Z being attacked in a lift by Beyoncé's sister Solange.

The family later hushed rumours they were at war with a series of happy pictures of her and her sister on her Instagram account before 7am New York time the day after the footage was leaked.

The four upbeat pictures show the sisters smiling and grinning, with one snap appearing to be from an awards ceremony, another at Coachella festival and one from a family holiday album.
But rumours continue to dog the couple with claims that they were planning a trial separation but do not want to go ahead with a divorce.

Earlier this year, a source told The New York Post’s Page Six: "They are trying to figure out a way to split without divorcing. This is a huge concert tour and they've already gotten most of the money from the promoters up front. There are no rings, if you haven’t noticed."

In 2015, they faced claims regarding the future of their relationship for a long time, and they have surfaced again months after their anniversary.

A source told InTouch magazine: "It’s dead. Bey is sick of keeping up the ruse of happiness, and she’s done.”

The pair are said to have been in trouble since infamous footage of Beyoncé's sister Solange Knowles attacking her brother-in-law in an elevator after a 2014 Met Gala after party went viral.

Beyoncé was the headline act at the Philadelphia show and Jay was reportedly spotted watching his wife and singing along in the crowd.

A reveller posted a video of the rapper - his head covered - smiling and singing along while standing next to Nick Jonas.

But now it's clear they're happier than ever, with two new babies on the way.

Credit: Daily Mirror