Entertainment | Celebrity

The summer of Brangelina

Country-hopping from Malta to Scotland and kids' birthdays en route - inside Brangelina's crazy summer

By Gemma White, Editor, e+
Published: 00:00 September 8, 2011

Image Credit: Reuters
Brad and Angelina don't scrimp when it comes to their nannies, employing one per child - with the couple said to spend in excess of Dh1.7 million per year on childcare alone

With six children to look after, and two international movie careers to manage, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have recently enjoyed the busiest summer of their lives - amid media interest fuelled by rumours that they're about to sneak off and tie the knot in secret.

Moving around the world to accommodate Brad's hectic filming schedule for his upcoming movie World War Z, the family has travelled from the US to Malta, before landing in the UK in the middle of the recent unrest - staying in London, Cornwall in southern England and Glasgow in Scotland.

And with an entourage of around 25, made up of nannies, bodyguards, chefs and assistants, the star couple is also gearing up for Angelina to start work on her new movie, Cleopatra.

e+ goes inside the Jolie-Pitt family's crazy summer, revealing how Brad and Ange keep the kids happy on the road, and what really goes on behind closed doors…

The Entourage

With a team of six burly bodyguards accompanying them wherever they go, Brad and Angelina don't scrimp when it comes to their nannies either, employing one per child - with the couple said to spend in excess of Dh1.7 million per year on childcare alone. Add into the mix an array of personal assistants, studio assistants, personal chefs and drivers, and the Jolie-Pitt entourage this summer has reached 25 people.

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"Every time they travel it's like a military operation," spilled a Hollywood source, adding that Brad and Ange often book out entire floors of hotels for their staff and to ensure they have privacy. "Even their assistants have assistants, but when you have six children and are two of the most famous people in the world, then this is what it takes to run their lives." And a hotel source added of one of the family's recent UK stays, "They'll book out the whole spa for personal use for date nights."

Always on the move

Known for their nomadic lifestyle, Angelina has said she likes it best when the whole family are on the road together. And with the children all enrolled in an international French school, they can pick up their studies in whichever country they happen to be at the time.

"Brad and I are going to focus on working for the next few years, then after that we're going to spend a lot of time just travelling with the children and working on other things together," says Angelina. And this summer has seen the Jolie-Pitt gang head to Malta and around the UK as Brad films his new zombie movie, World War Z. Hiring out a Dh33 million mansion near the sea, the couple and their pals enjoyed special treatment, with one source spilling, "They went to Trattoria Da Pippo in Valetta for dinner. It's actually a lunchtime restaurant, but it was opened especially in the evening for them."

Dealing with the riots

With her role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador taking her to some of the world's most dangerous destinations in the world, the recent London riots didn't faze Angelina one bit. Especially as she and the family were staying in super-posh Richmond - far away from the looting.

"Angelina has visited some of the most dangerous places on the planet and isn't about to pack her suitcase and evacuate just because a very small minority of violent youths have taken to the streets," spilled an insider. Adding, "She has her own private security." And the actress and her kids also found time to make repeat visits to a local toy store, Toy Station.

"She bought lots of small items like craft-making, stickers and tattoos - they were things for a trip they have planned," spilled store owner, Karen Khatchik.

Strict mum

While they may roll with a large entourage, when it comes to what the kids can and can't take with them on their travels, Brad admits that Ange doesn't indulge their children.

"On the road, we're a military mobile unit," admits the actor. "The kids have got their stuff down to one backpack, and they're each responsible for their own bag. Mom does the packing. She's quite gifted at that; puts in just what we need, nothing extra." But while Brad works, the actor has ensured the family don't get bored, hiring a yacht during their recent filming stint in Cornwall.

"Brad thought the family might as well have a holiday while he's shooting," a source told The Sun. "Cornwall is a little different from their usual destinations, and staying on a yacht will mean they'll be able to visit various seaside towns so the kids won't get bored."

Their own 'Hogwarts' express

Rather than take the usual celeb route of chartering a private jet to take them from London to Glasgow, Brad and Ange took the unusual step of hiring an entire train from Virgin Trains for the five-hour journey.

Embarking at platform 11 at London's Euston station, a Virgin spokesperson spilled, "Brad and Angelina hired the whole train. It is a bespoke service so prices would vary on the individual, people have different needs from station requirements to catering."

Sources estimate that the couple splashed out Dh144,000 on the journey, which they booked because their six kids rarely get the chance to travel by rail.

"Angelina took all the children to see the latest Harry Potter film recently, and they couldn't stop talking about the Hogwart's Express train afterwards," revealed an insider. "They're used to travelling first class or on private planes, but the children rarely get to experience travelling on a train. They absolutely loved it, running up and down the carriages excitedly and peering out of the windows at the passing scenery."