Clapton ends six year family rift over his Kermit costume

WHEN Eric Clapton’s daughter Ruth revealed that the rock god had turned up to his 70th birthday party dressed as Kermit the Frog, it triggered a feud that led to her heartbreaking declaration: ‘We no longer have a relationship.’

While family and friends feared their estrangement would be irreparable, I am happy to disclose that the guitarist, known as Slowhand, has healed their rift after six years.

It is, however, bitter- sweet for aspiring musician Ruth because the emotional reunion comes as she makes public the collapse of her marriage to Dean Bartlett, the father of her two children.

‘I’ve gone through a really rough time,’ says Ruth, 36, whose mother is recording studio manager Yvonne Kelly. ‘I’m about to navigate my way through a divorce — a decision that neither of us has taken lightly. All we want for each other is happiness, even if that can’t be achieved together.

‘We will continue to work together to co-parent our children and I hope we can do that well.’

Praising her family for ‘helping me’ and giving ‘the best support’, she addresses her relationship with Clapton, 76, for the first time since their fallout.

‘I’m always checking in with him,’ she says. ‘He’s doing really good, I’m very grateful for that. He’s itching to get back out there like all musicians.’

Clapton, whose songs include Wonderful Tonight and Layla, fathered Ruth during an affair with Yvonne while he was married to George Harrison’s ex-wife, model Pattie Boyd.

It was not publicly known that Ruth was his daughter until she attended the 1991 funeral of his four-year-old son, Conor, who fell from the 49th floor of a New York skyscraper.

Clapton sang at Ruth and Dean’s wedding party in 2011 that was attended by 150 guests at his Surrey mansion. The family became divided four years later when Ruth revealed his fascination with the Muppet character.

After he scolded her, their relationship was severed — until now.