Gary Barlow knew Robbie Williams and Ayda Field had found the "perfect solution" when they decided to have a baby via a surrogate.
Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow
The couple made a shock announcement last month when they revealed they had welcomed daughter Coco - a sister for Teddy, six, and three-year-old Charlton - into the world via a surrogate mother and the 'Angels' hitmaker's friend and former Take That bandmate admitted he was aware of the difficulties they had experienced in expanding their family and was thrilled when they told him of their plans.
Gary said: "I knew they had been having problems conceiving. It was a very upsetting time and Ayda was really going through it. Rob told me they were going to go down the surrogate route and I thought that was a perfect solution."
The 47-year-old singer - who has children Daniel, 18, Emily, 16, and nine-year-old Daisy with his wife Dawn - thinks parenthood has changed his friend for the better and believes the two 'X Factor' judges have created a "lovely family".
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, he said: "Rob is a changed man. He's a wonderful dad and Ayda is a top mum. They are just a lovely family.
"Rob has realised that is where happiness comes from. We've all come a long way."
Ayda hinted at the difficulties she and Robbie had experienced when she announced their daughter's birth.
She wrote on Instagram: "So we have been keeping a very special secret! We are delighted to share with you that we have had a baby girl....welcome to the world Colette (Coco) Josephine Williams!! It has been a very long and difficult path to get here, which is why we have kept it on the down low.
"Family comes in all forms, and this little lady, who is biologically ours, was carried by an incredible surrogate mother, to whom we will be eternally grateful.
"We are over the moon to have this beautiful baby girl in our lives and so blessed that we live in a world which makes this possible. As with Teddy and Charlie, we ask that you respect Coco's privacy and allow us to grow into our new team of 5! #TeamWilliams.(sic)"
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