Beyonce and Jay Z's love story in pictures
View galleryThey're one of the most well known celebrity couples on the planet – but 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."
September 2003: The pair attend the Women's Semi-Finals at the US Open
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 April 2008. 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.
In 2004 hip-hop's first couple made their first red carpet appearance
In 2010, after years of tours, features films, and hit records, Beyonce 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.
The bump that broke Twitter
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.
2011: The look of lurve
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!"
Aww.
For their love story in pictures, take a look at the gallery above.
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