Rebekah Vardy was seen leaving Starbucks with her two of her children on Sunday as she prepares to take Coleen Rooney to the High Court for defamation in a £1million lawsuit.
The WAG, 38 – who is the wife of England footballer Jamie Vardy, 33 – took a break from the drama as she stepped out with daughter Sofia, five, and son Finley, three, to grab a coffee near the family home in Leicester on Father’s Day.
The mother-of-five has been locked in a feud with Coleen, 34, ever since she publicly accused Rebekah’s Instagram account of leaking stories about her late last year.
In the latest twist in the ongoing tale, Coleen branded Rebekah’s decision to issue court proceedings ‘disappointing’ in a statement issued via her legal team on Tuesday afternoon.
She means business: Rebekah Vardy was pictured leaving Starbucks with her two of her children on Sunday as she prepares to take Coleen Rooney to court in a £1 million lawsuit
Coleen’s lawyer Paul Lunt of Brabners said in a statement on Tuesday: ‘It is disappointing that Mrs Vardy has chosen to issue court proceedings.
‘Coleen feels that the time and money involved could be put to better use; her offer to meet face to face still stands.
‘Mrs Vardy’s decision to issue court proceedings does at least mean that Coleen’s evidence can be made public when the time is right.’
During Rebekah’s family outing, the I’m A Celebrity star opted for comfort in Adidas gymwear, featuring a pale blue hoodie and classic black leggings.
The media personality maintained her sporty display in the footwear department as she strolled along the car park in powder pink trainers.
Keeping accessories to a minimum, the reality star rounded things off with stud earrings and her wedding band.
Drama: Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen, 34, is ‘disappointed’ her nemesis Rebekah has decided to take their WAG war to court (pictured at her local supermarket in Cheshire on Tuesday)
Cheery: The I’m A Celebrity star, 38, took a brief break from her legal drama as she stepped out with Sofia, five, and Finley, three, for a coffee run in Leicester on Father’s Day
Locked horns: Becky been embroiled in a feud with Coleen ever since the mother-of-four publicly accused Rebekah’s Instagram account of leaking stories about her late last year
Off they go: The brunette pushed her back against the shop’s door as she left the cafe with her little ones
Rebekah has Sofia, Finley, and baby Olivia Grace, five months, with her husband, and is also mum to Megan, 15, and Taylor, nine, from previous relationships, while Jamie shares Ella, nine, with his ex Emma Daggett.
Rebekah’s outing came amid claims she’s filed paperwork, claiming her ex friend Coleen, the wife of Derby County captain Wayne Rooney, 34, defamed her on social media when she posted the serious allegation.
A court listing issued on June 12 revealed Rebekah, being represented by Kingsley Napley in London, is suing Coleen, who is being represented by Liverpool’s Brabners.
The case type is ‘defamation, libel and slander’ and it’s on the ‘media and communications’ list on the Queen’s Bench Division.
Be careful! The TV star proved safety comes first as she held hands with her daughter and carried her son on her waist while walking across the car park
Less is more: During her outing, the mother-of-five opted for comfort in Adidas gymwear, featuring a pale blue hoodie and classic black leggings
Woosh! The beaming trio fell victim to the elements as their hair billowed in the wind
Dressed down: The media personality maintained her sporty display in the footwear department as she strolled along the car park in powder pink trainers
The case documents are not yet available, which suggests Coleen hasn’t yet formally acknowledged the claim.
Last month, the pair held a video meeting in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a very public and expensive court hearing, yet it ended in a bitter deadlock.
It is now said it could cost each side £500,000 in legal fees, but Rebekah is ‘completely determined to clear her name at any cost’.
A source told The Sun: ‘Becky has made it clear to Coleen that she is deadly serious about clearing her name, and wants a full public apology.
In charge: At one point, Sofia was pictured holding onto her mother’s car keys
All in the details: Keeping accessories to a minimum, the reality star rounded things off with stud earrings and her wedding band
Cool kids: Sofia wore a Unique jumper and kooky pink shades, while Finley looked adorable in a blue ensemble
‘It’s not about money. As far as Becky is concerned, she wants her costs and vindication. But since Coleen still refuses to agree to an apology, she’s gone ahead with filing the paperwork at the High Court.
‘It’s a very expensive thing to do and the expectation is costs could run towards half a million pounds for each side but she’s completely determined to clear her name at any cost.’
MailOnline contacted Rebekah’s representatives for comment.
Yum! The model held onto a warm beverage and had her young boy tote a bag of treats
Oops: Becky giggled as the wind swept her tresses into her face
Announced: A court listing issued on June 12 revealed Rebekah, being represented by Kingsley Napley in London, is suing Coleen, who is being represented by Liverpool’s Brabners
Last month, the pair failed to reach a resolution, meaning their dispute could go to the High Court.
A source said: ‘The girls are still no further forward, so it’s now going to have to be heard in court.
‘It’s a shame it has come to this but there is no other way. Coleen has plenty of evidence and she isn’t frightened to show it.’
The women held an online Alternative Dispute Resolution mediation meeting in May alongside their lawyers in a bid to avoid an expensive court case after racking up legal costs in the ‘five figures’.
Coleen, whose husband Wayne is player-coach at Derby County, is thought to be countersuing for breach of privacy.
Her happy place: Becky grinned from ear-to-ear as she engaged in a sweet chat with Finley
The important things in life: Despite enduring months of media attention due to her dispute with Coleen, Becky still managed to crack a smile
A lot on her plate: Rebekah’s outing came amid claims she’s filed paperwork, claiming her ex friend Coleen defamed her on social media when she posted the serious allegation
The pair’s row began last October, when Coleen claimed Rebekah’s Instagram account was the source leaking stories from her private Instagram account to the press.
The WAG rivals were previously good pals until Coleen made the shock allegation in an explosive social media statement last year.
Coleen admitted that stories about her basement flooding, returning to TV and gender selection were only viewed by Rebekah and these were subsequently followed by media outlets, including MailOnline.
Rebekah, who denies all allegations and was pregnant at the time, cut her family holiday to Dubai short after the dramatic accusation, which captured Britain in the so-called ‘war of the WAGs’ and earned Coleen the nickname of ‘Wagatha Christie’.
The statement: In October, Coleen publicly accused Rebekah’s account in a statement of selling fake stories about her, sparking an angry denial from the then-pregnant WAG
At the time, sources close to Rebekah said leading law firm, Kingsley Napley, had sent Coleen a letter on her behalf demanding she provides them with the evidence she has against Becky so that she can complete her investigation.
Becky is said to have called in a forensic team to analyse her Instagram account following the explosive claims. The aim is to identify the mole who sold fake stories to The Sun from Coleen’s Instagram account.
Coleen wrote on October 9: ‘For a few years now someone who I trusted to follow me on my personal Instagram account has been consistently informing The Sun newspaper of my private posts and stories.
‘There has been so much information given to them about me, my friends and my family – all without my permission or knowledge.
In happier times: Rebekah and Coleen pictured together at the Euros in 2016
‘After a long time of trying to figure out who it could be, for various reasons, I had a suspicion. To try and prove this, I came up with an idea, I blocked everyone from viewing Instagram except ONE account.’
She continued: ‘(Those on my private account must have been wondering why I haven’t had stories on there for a while).
‘Over the past five months I have posted a series of false stories to see if they made their way into the Sun newspaper.
‘And you know what, they did! The story about gender selection in Mexico, the story about returning to TV and then the latest story about the basement flood in my new house.
‘It’s been tough keeping it to myself and not making any comment at all, especially when the stories have been leaked, however I had to. Now I know for certain which account/individual it’s come from.
‘I have saved and screenshotted all the original stories which clearly show just one person has viewed them. It’s……… Rebekah Vardy’s account.’
Rebekah hit back minutes later on social media and denied the accusations, she wrote: ‘Can’t believe I’m even having to write this. I’m pregnant & on holiday & am at a loss to why she would do this.
‘I’m now having to take legal advice as I can’t deal with this stress myself when I’m this pregnant. As I have just said to you on the phone, I wish you had called me if you thought this.
‘I never speak to anyone about you as various journalists who have asked me to over the years can vouch for. If you thought this was happening you can could have told me & I could have changed my passwords to see if it stopped.’
She continued: ‘Over the years various people have had access to my Insta & just this week I found I was following people I didn’t know and have never followed myself.
‘I’m not being funny but I don’t need the money, what would I gain from selling stories on you? I liked you a lot Coleen & I’m so upset that you have chosen to do this especially when I’m heavily pregnant.
‘I don’t need the money’: Rebekah denied all accusations against her minutes after the post and said she had nothing to gain and had no financial motivation
‘I’m disgusted that I’m even having to deny this. You should have called me the first time this happened.’
In February, Rebekah emotionally revealed on Loose Women that she was hospitalised ‘three times’ over the impact of her feud with Coleen.
Speaking in her first TV interview since the scandal, the WAG, who was joined by her baby daughter Olivia Grace, compared the row to ‘being abused by my step dad.’
Reflecting on the drama, the mother-of-five – who is married to Leicester City footballer Jamie, 33 – spoke about the backlash and subsequent trolling, and its effect on her physical and mental health.
Rebekah shared: ‘It just kind of escalated and it was not great. The trolling was the worst part for me. I have been trolled before and I do get it all the time but it kind of escalated. This was a whole new level…
‘I had people messaging me saying nasty stuff, one in particular, ‘You fat ugly rat. I genuinely hope you and your baby rot.’ I think people just don’t realise when they’re saying stuff how it affects you.
‘It was the worst thing I’ve been through since being abused by my step dad’, she boldly added.
Becky previously confessed the harrowing sexual abuse she endured from the age of 13 until she left home at 16 drove a wedge between her and her family. She also attempted to overdose aged 14.
Hurt: Rebekah is the wife of England footballer Jamie Vardy, 33 (pictured while pregnant with baby daughter Olivia Grace in December)
Revealing she was sent to hospital three times while carrying baby Olivia, the model added: ‘I was struck with serious anxiety attacks and ended up in hospital three times. I ended up with kidney stones.
‘I had severe anxiety, I felt like I couldn’t go out without people just looking at me and questioning, ‘Did she do it? Did she not do it?’ No one would ever say anything to your face and that’s the whole thing with trolling. They won’t say it to your face.’
The trolling also had a negative influence on sportsman Jamie, and her eldest child, Megan, 15, she explained: ‘Jamie really struggled seeing me upset and down. It was a hard time.
‘Megan found it really difficult. There are people finding out what her Instagram account was and sending her horrible messages.’
Family first: The brunette shares Sofia, Finley and Olivia Grace with Leicester City striker Jamie and has Megan, 15, and Taylor, 10, from a previous relationship (pictured in December)