Ruth Langsford is determined to signify the end of her marriage on her own terms

Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford has found one move a step too far following her shock split from husband Eamonn Holmes. A body language expert has revealed why Ruth is still wearing her wedding ring, despite the very public split in May last year.

The former This Morning hosts stunned their fans when they went their separate ways last spring. Eamonn has since moved on with his new girlfriend Katie Alexander, with the pair not trying to hide their romance. The couple, who had been together since 1996 and married since 2010, announced their shock split after 14 years of marriage.

This week, Ruth marked her first major milestone as a single woman when she celebrated her 65th birthday. She was surrounded by her celebrity pals, who treated her to a boozy six-hour lunch at the upmarket Gaia restaurant in Mayfair, London. Ruth, dressed in a satin blue shirt and black trousers, appeared bleary-eyed as she stepped out of the lunch with her pals Vanessa Feltz and Lizzie Cundy filled with champagne and cocktails.

The TV star styled her short blonde locks in a straight do and was seen with her wedding and engagement rings firmly on as she clutched onto a black handbag. She hasn’t taken off her rings despite the breakdown of her marriage. In February, she enjoyed a lunch date with Lizzie again, where she was seen with her ring and in August last year she shared a mirror selfie following a pamper session and new hair day.

Ruth kept her ring on as she celebrated her birthday(Image: w8media)

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The expensive diamond was seen in all its glory as Ruth took the mirror snap. Body language expert Judi James has revealed exactly why Ruth is staying defiant in her decision to keep on her rings. She told the Mirror: “This was a very public split so there’s little risk that people would not be aware that Ruth is now out of her marriage to Eammon but the act of removing the ring from her finger might still be one step too far for the TV presenter.

“Many women that have been in long term marriages feel that removing the ring is deleting the marriage altogether. The ring acts as an ongoing symbol and trophy or even ‘medal’ for long service and hard work, regardless of the outcome.”

Ruth has been wearing her ring despite the split(Image: w8media)

She added: “Ruth probably doesn’t feel single, which can imply she’s never been married, plus she has children, meaning the bare finger might feel inappropriate.” Judi explained Ruth could be seeking some aspect of control over the split by keeping her rings on.

The expert told us: “She might also feel the need for feelings of power and control. By leaving the ring on for now she could feel the marriage is only properly over when she decides it is. It makes at least part of the split her choice and could help her cope with any residue feelings of a lack of control in the meantime.

The couple were married for 14 years(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

“It’s going to be her decision and her choice when she finally decides to look and act like a single woman again.” Ruth is said to be not ready to date again just yet. A source told Mirror: “She’s not ready to date, it’s not her priority and she just wants to have fun. Her friends are all telling her to, but she’s not there yet.”

Ruth has had to watch on as Eamonn begin a new relationship with girlfriend Katie. Eamonn was seen stepping out with his new girlfriend just months after his split from Ruth. The duo finally went public at the star-studded TRIC Awards in December last year.

The TV star has remained mostly silent on her marriage breakdown but, she has said she doesn’t want to end up alone. Eight months after their split, Ruth also explained that her recent weight loss is down to the stress of her split with Eamonn and their ongoing divorce.

The TV star told Woman and Home Magazine: “A break-up of a relationship is hard enough for anybody to deal with. A divorce is very difficult and it’s very painful, but most people don’t have to do it in the public eye, with everybody having an opinion about you and writing things about you and commenting things about you.

“But that’s the nature of my job. I’ve always had that and if you can’t cope with that, you shouldn’t be doing this job. I’m quite fine being on my own, but not forever. When you’re in a relationship, it’s easy to say, ‘Great, I’ve got a weekend to myself,’ but when you think that might be every weekend, it’s a different story.”