Ant Anstead Says "Christmas Is Cancelled" After U.K. Lockdown Prevents Him From Seeing His Kids

From House Beautiful

Ant Anstead's holiday plans just hit a major snag. Last week, the former Wheelers Dealers host shared that he'd be heading home to the U.K. to spend Christmas and New Years with his two eldest kids, Amelie, 17, and Archie, 14. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Ant will now be staying put in the United States for the rest of 2020.

A source confirmed to People that the 41-year-old can no longer fly to the U.K. to spend the holidays with Amelie and Archie due to England's Tier 4 restrictions. These restrictions, which were put into effect on Sunday, ban travel into the country.

"He is devastated to learn that he cannot travel back to the U.K.," the source told the outlet about Ant. "He doesn’t know what his Christmas plans will be here in the states just yet."

While Ant is also the father of Hudson London, the one-year-old will be spending the holidays with his mom, Christina Anstead, from whom Ant separated in September.

The U.K. enacted Tier 4 over concerns of a fast-spreading variant of the virus — it is the U.K.'s strictest COVID-19 lockdown yet. According to guidelines from the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care, Tier 4 bans meeting with anyone outside your household or support bubble, or leaving your home unless you have "a reasonable excuse." While the United States has not banned travel back from the U.K., Tier 4 ultimately prevents Ant from entering.

Ant shared a screenshot to his Instagram story on Tuesday morning of a FaceTime call with his daughter Amelie. "When Christmas is cancelled," he wrote, followed by "2020 has floored me." The father-of-three is seen frowning in the image.

As he told People last week, Amelie and Archie are "not actually allowed to enter the U.S," as they do not have residential status. While he video chats with them daily, it is "incredibly frustrating" that he can't see them in person as much as he’d like to. They continue to live in England with their mom, Ant’s first wife, Louise Herbert. Meanwhile, Ant has declared California as his official home.

Last month, Ant spent Thanksgiving one-on-one with son Hudson. While Christina and Ant Anstead's divorce and custody agreement are not yet finalized, they appear to already be celebrating the holidays separately.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

You Might Also Like

• 7 Secrets HomeGoods Employees Won't Tell You

• 19 Closet Organization Ideas You'll Want to Steal Immediately

• 15 Styling Tricks That Make A Small Living Room Seem Bigger Than It Is