Pictured: Cowell 'kissing married lover Lauren on yacht' LAST AUGUST... as husband’s friends reveal 'she was always totally into Simon' but that he knows 'plenty' if the divorce gets ugly

Cowell and Lauren pictured in August 2012 'appearing to kiss'



Andrew does NOT want a bitter divorce battle - but DOES know 'plenty' about the X Factor supremo

He believes affair started this spring - although he knew Lauren was 'totally into Simon'

Real estate millionaire tonight breaks silence to reveal his family are going through a 'very difficult time'

Lauren captioned a photo of herself with Simon as 'My little Simey monster'



The estranged husband of Simon Cowell's pregnant lover believes she was 'totally into Simon' for years before the pair embarked on an affair, sources today told MailOnline.

It came as photos emerged on Friday of the X Factor supremo sharing an intimate moment with New York socialite Lauren Silverman during a cruise off the coast of the French Riviera in August 2012.

Meanwhile, American websites including the New York Post and TMZ.com suggest that the pair had in fact begun their 'affair' long before Lauren's marriage ended.



A source close to the Silverman family told MailOnline: 'This affair has been going on for a long time - much longer than anyone would think.'

Surprisingly, a source close to the wealthy property developer today said Andrew believes the affair only started earlier this year, adding: 'He knew Lauren was always totally into Simon, but as far as Andrew is concerned it was this spring when things went to another level.'

Close: Simon Cowell appearing to kiss Lauren Silverman on a yacht off the coast of St Tropez, France in August 2012 More than just friends? Reports claim the couple's romance has been going on since at least 2012. Her husband believed the romance started in the spring And tonight, as Andrew returned to the $4million Hamptons mansion where his soon-to-be ex-wife is holed up, he broke his silence to say his family were going through a 'very difficult time.' He appealed for privacy for his wife - who is said to be 10 weeks pregnant with Cowell's baby - and his seven-year-old son Adam.

Andrew had even joined his wife and good friend Cowell while house hunting in Los Angeles in October.

Bump: Lauren Silverman showed off a tiny baby bump today as she was seen with her seven-year-old son Adam in Bridgehampton, New York

Expecting: Lauren Silverman and her young son pick up lunch in the wealthy enclave of the Hamptons today. The New York socialite fled to the country after news of her shock pregnancy broke this week



The source admits: 'Andrew maybe was in a little bit of denial about this. He knew Lauren had star f***ing tendancies - not literally - and that she enjoyed being around celebrities, but he had no real clue.'

Having filed for divorce after discovering his wife is pregnant by the man he had thought his friend, Andrew now hopes that the divorce will be speedy and the couple can come to an agreement over their son.



However, in a chilling threat, if it does go to court, real estate millionaire Andrew knows 'plenty about Simon', according to friends - which could prove to be extremely embarrassing for the X Factor supremo.



Stony-faced: Andrew Silverman arrives back at the $4 million Hamptons mansion where his estranged wife Lauren Silverman is holed up on Friday afternoon

Andrew was dressed casually in flip flops, grey shorts, a black T-shirt and sunglasses with a cap on as he arrived back at the property in Bridgehampton, New York, at 4.45pm in a Mercedes Gullwing sports car having left at 9am after spending the night.



Looking stressed and tense, he told reporters: 'This is a very difficult time. Please keep your distance.'

This week, it was revealed that Andrew has taken the unusual step of naming Cowell as a co-respondent in the divorce papers he filed two weeks ago.

According to TMZ, Andrew is alleging adultery to end his marriage to Lauren.



Upset: Andrew Silverman says his family are going through a very difficult time and asked for privacy

And he makes clear his intention in the legal filing, saying, 'The nature of this action is: to dissolve the marriage between the parties based upon (1) the commission of acts of adultery by the defendant and (2) defendant's cruel and inhuman treatment of the plaintiff .'

Lauren has a pre-nup that gives her $3 to $4 million, a friend told the New York Post but her pregnancy could change that.

The paper claims that Lauren's relationship with Cowell began as early as 2011, with a source quoted as telling the publication: 'Lauren has been telling friends she has been sleeping with Simon since the end of 2011, or the start of 2012.'

Former flame: Cowell split from former fiancee Mezhgan Hussainy in late 2011, around the time Lauren was increasingly seen with the pop mogul

Lauren was a constant fixture during Cowell's X Factor USA live shows back in late 2011, around the time he split from former fiancee Mezhgan Hussainy.

Lauren was regularly seen sitting in the front row and directly in Cowell's line of sight during the shows.



While it is unknown if any romance between Cowell and Lauren caused their split, Mezhgan looked in good spirits and smiled widely as she arrived at the mogul's Beverly Hills home on Thursday in the wake of the shock pregnancy announcement.



Mezhgan is still close friends with Cowell and continues to do his make-up for the X Factor shows, touring the country with him for recent auditions.

And a friend said: ‘Mezghan is good, she’s been really supportive.'

Cowell and Lauren met in 2007 on the beach in Barbados, when she was on holiday there with her husband Andrew.



The reality show judge is a creature of habit and has stayed at the five-star Sandy Lane Hotel during New Year and the month of January for many years.

He has stayed at both the hotel and the private apartments next door, jetting off on his annual vacation after filming The X Factor UK, which he quit in 2011.

Although over the past three years, he has tried to win some more privacy for him and his coterie of guests and has hired a yacht, the Slipstream, which can cost between $450,000 and $900,000 to hire per week.

It was in January 2012, that he was pictured with Lauren and Andrew on board, although at the time they were named as just 'friends' – and had yet to become household names.



By August 2012, Lauren had joined Cowell on board the Slipstream again, joined by his harem including fashion designer Rachel Roy and Sinitta, in St Tropez in the South of France.

Holiday buddies: Simon Cowell and his now pregnant lover Lauren Silverman were pictured together in St Tropez in August 2012.

Good friends: Lauren, Mezhgan and Cowell at a charity event in Barbados in December 2012 As his engagement to Mezhgan fizzled out – something he called his ‘big mistake’ in Tom Bower’s tell-all book - Lauren began to accompany him everywhere, travelling from her home in New York to London, and joining him at Britain’s Got Talent filming. In January, the couple were so close that Rachel Roy Instagrammed a picture of the pair curled around each other in the sunshine, with Lauren in a bikini hugging Simon calling them: ‘Host number one and host number 2.’ In a photo on Lauren's own Instagram, she posted a photo of them together several months ago (which has since been deleted), captioning it 'Me and my lil Simey Monster'. In one picture, take on that fateful vacation, Cowell's ex-fiancee Mezghan stands at the end of the group of friends while Cowell playfully puts his hands around Lauren’s neck – and Andrew stands to the side laughing.

Three's a crowd: Lauren and her husband Andrew regularly enjoyed holidays with Cowell, pictured here in January 2012. It has now been claimed his family believe Lauren was unfaithful for several years during her marriage to Andrew As they were: Andrew is gearing up for a divorce battle with Lauren - but wants it to be quick and painless

The couple were seen in March leaving a performance of the Mouse Trap in London and smoking in the back of a chauffeur driven car.

Cowell had split from long-term girlfriend Terri Seymour in 2008 because he didn’t want to get married – and on Friday a source said Terri and Lauren were not – and had never been friends.

However, despite the claims coming out of America, other sources insist that Cowell and Lauren's romantic relationship did not begin until after she had officially separated from Andrew, again reiterating this today.

Her friend Mzia Shima claimed Lauren’s friendship with Cowell did NOT turn into romance until recently – and only because Andrew was frequently abroad on business.

Keeping their heads down: Lauren was seen out in Bridgehampton in New York on Thursday, while Andrew maintained a stony silence while out in Manhattan in the evening

Mzia, who has known Lauren for 10 years, told MailOnline: ‘Lauren and Andrew were never separated but Andrew works long hours, he’s often not in New York.

‘She and Andrew were always invited to things together by Simon but if Andrew couldn’t go, sometime Lauren would go on her own.

'They were close friends and then one day it turned into something else. This is all fresh. Lauren didn’t plan any of this. It’s not some kind of trick.'

She added :”I know one, thing for sure, they are in love with each other. I hope they will get married and be happy forever.;

Shiman, who owns a day spa in Manhattan, revealed that she saw Lauren a week ago, adding: 'She told me she was pregnant with Simon’s baby. She was glowing. She has a tiny little belly but even that looks good on her because she is so stunning. I said:”Lauren, are you happy?” and she said: 'Yes, I’m thrilled'.

'She told me that Simon is happy to have a child. She was a little bit stressed, of course, because it’s a difficult situation. But she is in love and she is happy.'

Mzia calls says her friend a 'wonderful mother' and says she is different to the other women that Cowell surrounds himself with. “Lauren never took anything from Simon, she never expected anything. I think that’s why, for Simon, Lauren is special. She’s not some bubblehead. She’s very smart and very intelligent.



'Women have always been jealous of her. She’s beautiful, she’s married to a millionaire. She has a driver, and a house here and in the Hamptons. Andrew is a rich man and she is used to this life.”



Staying silent: Simon appeared in good spirits but kept quiet about the baby news during an X Factor USA Panel in Beverly Hills on Thursday

Mzia insisted that Lauren’s first priority was her son Adam, adding: ‘It wasn’t that Andrew was a bad husband. She has never spoken badly of him. It was that she and Simon fell in love. Maybe she felt something different with Simon – more loving, more caring.

'I know that she wants to do this in as dignified a way as possible. Her concern is for her little boy and for the baby.'

Although both the men in Lauren’s life had been fond of each other, Mzia said she did not know their feelings now, adding: ‘Andrew was very fond of Simon and vice versa. I really believe Andrew will find it in his heart to do the right thing.'

She added that her friend will be a 'wonderful mother' to Cowell’s baby, saying: 'Her son Adam is her life. She is a devoted mother. She even sits at the table with him and counts the bites he takes to make sure he eats enough.

'She never wanted to leave Andrew because of her little boy. But these things happen, marriages break up, and I know she and Andrew will do everything they can to make sure Adam is OK.'

Simon Cowell's seven year friendship with Lauren Silverman in pictures



August 7th, 2010: One of the first times Cowell and Lauren (left) were pictured together, during a holiday in France with his then girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy

August 7th, 2010: Mezhgan and Lauren are seen sunbathing on the deck of Cowell's chartered boat

August 4th, 2011: Cowell and Lauren are seen on holiday together in St Tropez, where they were joined by his close friend Sinitta

August 4th, 2011: Lauren covered up in a beach cover-up as Cowell poured her a drink on deck

December 29th, 2011: Cowell and Lauren (far right) are seen attending the Hope-Martin Foundation Charity Auction in Barbados together December 29th, 2011: Lauren was seen sitting next to Cowell's mother Julie and Sinitta



January 4th, 2012: Cowell and Lauren were pictured chatting on the deck of his boat during a holiday in St Barts

January 4th 2012: The pair were also joined by Andrew on the break, and the trio were pictured in a cosy display on the deck

April 25th, 2012: Cowell and Lauren were both pictured a the launch party for Tom Bower's book Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowelll at The Serpentine Gallery in London

May 30th, 2012: Cowell and Lauren were seen leaving the same Miami Beach hotel following a Memorial Day Weekend celebration

August 9th, 2012: In their second holiday together in less than a year, Cowell and Lauren were pictured in St Tropez once again

August 9th, 2012: Lauren took the opportunity to show off her incredible figure in a tiny bikini during the break Close: Lauren and Simon talking on his yacht off the French Riviera... Passion? The couple appear to be kissing in this photo taken just under a year ago

October 28th, 2012: The pair were pictured house hunting alongside som friends in Los Angeles

October 28th, 2012: Lauren and Cowell were both seen puffing on cigarettes during the house hunting excursion

December 28th, 2012: Cowell and Lauren once again attend the auction for the Hope Sanctuary in Barbados, along with Sinitta and Mezhgan

December 28th, 2012: Lauren drinks a glass of wine as Mezhgan chats to Cowell

January 4th, 2013: Cowell and Mezhgan (blue bikini) are seen on holiday in St Barts with Lauren and Andrew

January 4th, 2013: The group looked in good spirits on the break

March 27th, 2013: The pair are seen leaving Saint Martin's Theatre after watching a production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap

March 27th, 2013: Lauren looked stunning in a black and green dress for the night out

June 25th, 2013: The last images of Cowell and Lauren, leaving London's River Cafe after a night out with Paul McKenna