Rita Ora claimed to be celebrating her 30th quietly in interview before lockdown-flouting birthday

Rita Ora declared she was having a quiet 30th birthday two weeks prior to throwing a big party for herself amid lockdown. 

The Sunday Times Magazine published an interview on Sunday in which the singer claimed she was only celebrating with her parents due to England being in a second lockdown at the time.

The article includes a string of quotes from the pop star about how she was ‘being patient like everyone’ – despite being caught on the day itself leaving a restaurant with a mass of friends and family, breaking the rules in the process and paying a £10k fine.

The chat took place in early November, in which she said of her lockdown experience: ‘I’m being patient – getting through it like everyone.’

She went on to divulge her apparent birthday plans, saying: ‘It’s going to literally be just my parents and me.

‘I’m actually looking forward to it. To just hanging out with my parents. Is that weird?’

Known as a fan of the social scene and partying, she then remarked: ‘My reputation’s going to go down the drain but [my parents are] my favourite people to hang out with.’

This leaves Rita with egg on her face for the third time, having been caught twice flouting the rules. 

The Mail On Sunday revealed that prior to her birthday the singer flew by private jet to Cairo on November 21 to perform at the five-star W Hotel.

She returned the next day and under Government quarantine rules should have self-isolated for 14 days.

Instead of this, she threw a birthday party on November 28 at the exclusive Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill, West London.

For this she apologised with the following statement: ‘Hello all, I attended a small gathering with some friends to celebrate my 30th birthday. 

‘It was a spur of the moment decision made with the misguided view that we were coming out of lockdown and this would be OK… I’m deeply sorry for breaking the rules and in turn understand that this puts people at risk.

‘This was a serious and inexcusable error of judgement. Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility.

‘I feel particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe. Even though this won’t make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.’

She paid the hefty £10k fine for breaching these protocols, having been reported to the police, who investigated the restaurant, which, to any passers-by, looked to be closed up.

She was, on Saturday, forced into another grovelling apology for breaching strict coronavirus rules, amid the latest embarrassment.

She said: ‘I recently flew to Egypt to perform at a corporate event for a private company, where my travel party followed protocol and presented negative Covid tests upon entry, as required by Egyptian authorities.

‘Upon my return to Britain, I should have followed Government advice and isolated myself for the required period. As you know, I didn’t follow Government advice and… I apologise again, unreservedly.

‘While I realise the apologetic words of a pop star might not carry much weight, especially one who has broken the rules like I have, I do realise some might seek to follow my example.

‘My message to them is simple: please don’t. The guilt and shame I’ve carried this week for my mistake aren’t worth it. Instead, continue to listen to the Government advice and the voices of the heroes of the NHS and take the required precautions.’

She added: ‘I hope to one day make it up to the public who have given me so much support over the years and, in particular, make it up to the heroes of the NHS…

‘In the meantime, I will be donating my fee from Egypt to charity. Be better than I have been and learn from my mistakes so you don’t have to learn the hard way yourselves.’

According to a source, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was among those at the party at the W Hotel, possibly to celebrate his 66th birthday which was two days earlier.

A spokesman for the singer said she had been hired by the W Hotel and had neither met nor been aware of the presence of Mr Sisi. The Egyptian Government did not respond to a request for comment. 

A spokesman for the star, estimated to be worth £10 million, said she and her team had all subsequently tested negative for coronavirus. 

Earlier this week, Piers Morgan slammed Rita for the incident. The Good Morning Britain presenter insisted the singer was simply sorry she got caught.

Piers, 55, asked, ‘What does her mum think about this?’ as he reminded viewers that her mother Vera returned to the frontline to work for the NHS amid the pandemic.

He said: ‘This Rita Ora thing annoyed me because suddenly she’s “deeply sorry” and volunteered to pay the £10,000 fine – which will barely touch the sides of her pocket money.

‘What is she “deeply sorry” about? She knew what she was doing, we are in a national lockdown – it’s not a secret!

‘She’s a very rich pop star and she deliberately planned a 30th birthday party – I don’t know what the restaurant was thinking, so how are you able to do that? And why were you doing that?’

He added: ‘You plan a 30th birthday like that, you turn up, invite all your famous buddies, you party and have a great night – the police come and bang on the door.

‘If they’re all doing that, if the rules aren’t for them, then what’s the point of the rules?

‘”I’m deeply sorry”, what about? You’re not deeply sorry – you’re deeply sorry you got caught! That’s what you’re “deeply sorry” about.

‘If you hadn’t been caught would you be issuing a statement saying: “I’ve just woken up and realised what I did was terribly wrong and I’m deeply sorry?”‘

Piers noted that Rita has said in her statement that lockdown was about to end and so she thought it would be fine. 

He said: ‘So you knew there was a lockdown, otherwise you wouldn’t have thought it was about to come to an end.’

Susanna Reid added: ‘Also, even when lockdown comes to an end it’s still against the rules to have 30 people come together.’

It had been reported that Rita had 30 guests at her bash at Casa Cruz restaurant, but the MailOnline understands the number was seven.  

Piers later said: ‘Her mother’s a health worker! She spent most of the first wave of the pandemic speaking about her pride for the health service.

“She even launched a coronavirus range of clothing saying “stop the spread”… And then she invites [30] of her mates for her lockdown-breaking 30th birthday.  

‘It’s exhausting keeping up with these people, it’s just so selfish.’

Police were called to Rita’s party and the Met Police gave a statement to MailOnline. 

They penned: ‘Police were called at 21:10hrs on Saturday, 28 November to reports of a potential breach of Covid regulations at a commercial premises in Clarendon Road, W11.

‘Officers attended and carried out enquiries at the scene. They found no record of any offence being committed.’

Lockdown is set to end on Wednesday, with London entering a slightly more relaxed Tier Two system which will allow people to return to pubs and drink if they order food. 

Rita has now apologised for what she has called a ‘serious and inexcusable error of judgment’ in going to the party during national lockdown, where no social mixing is allowed indoors. 

Writing on Instagram on Monday, Rita had said: ‘Hello all, I attended a small gathering with some friends to celebrate my 30th birthday. 

‘It was a spur of the moment decision made with the misguided view that we were coming out of lockdown and this would be OK… I’m deeply sorry for breaking the rules and in turn understand that this puts people at risk.

‘This was a serious and inexcusable error of judgement. Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility.

‘I feel particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe. Even though this won’t make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.’ 

Notting Hill restaurant Casa Cruz, is named after Chilean-born Juan Santa Cruz, who resigned as restaurateur in February. 

Nicholas Fallows, who is listed as the sole director of Casa Cruz London Ltd, insisted he was unaware of the event.  

Francois Perrodo, 43, who with mother Carrie are among Britain’s richest business bosses with their £5.8billion fortune, is the majority shareholder in Casa Cruz.  

Mr Perrodo is a businessman and racing car driver and has competed in a number of races in his birth country of France.

His fortune comes from the oil and gas industry and he is the chairman of the Anglo-French company Perenco, which was founded by his late father Hubert.

A source told MailOnline this morning: ‘He had absolutely no idea this was being held there.’

The director of the restaurant also said they were in the dark on who had approved the party, deepening the mystery over who gave it the go-ahead. 

On Monday, while wishing Lorraine a happy birthday, Susanna said: ‘It’s a shame we can’t come give you a hug and a kiss, although you’re probably glad you can’t get one from Piers. Are you having a small get together?’  

‘Yeah, it’s just what everyone is doing apart from Rita Ora,’ Lorraine replied. 

Evidently appalled by Rita’s decision to host a party for people outside her immediate social bubble, Piers carped: ‘These celebs, I’ll do what I want and no one else matters, I don’t get it… what’s the restaurant doing allowing all those people in?’

Lorraine, who admitted she will celebrate her special day at home with husband Steve Smith, added: ‘I could have 61 people for 61? That would be quite nice when it’s all over.’ 

It comes as the government again stressed the importance of abiding by restrictions on Sunday, ahead of the UK’s second national lockdown ending on December 2. 

In pictures obtained by The Sun, Cara and Poppy Delevingne as well as TOWIE star Vas Morgan, 31, and Rita’s sister Elena, 32, are seen at the venue.  

Rita was also spotted leaving the building while wearing a slinky wrap skirt and black face mask. 

A source told the publication: ‘Rita and her sister came to the restaurant first, all dolled up and clearly looking forward to a good night.

‘There were a number of guests, all dressed up very glamorously, and everyone entered the building through the back, with security watching the front to make sure no one else went in. It went on until the early hours.’

The restaurant’s director Nicholas Fallows also told The Sun that he hadn’t been aware of any plans for an event and the restaurant was ‘owned by shareholders’.  

Current government guidelines say that people ‘minimise the time spent outside their home’ and avoid meeting others who they do not live with.

People should also avoid physical contact; being close and face-to-face; and shouting or singing close to others who do not share a home with you or who are not in the same support bubble.

Guidelines brought in with the national lockdown on November 5 also state that people must ‘not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household, meaning the people you live with, or your support bubble’. 

Restaurants are also currently closed except for takeaway meals, with any breaking of these guidelines possibly ending up with a fine.

The rules are set to change on December 2, with many restrictions being dependent on which Tier the location ends up being in. 

In London restaurants and cafes will be able to open from Wednesday. Pubs and bars can also open, but only if they are operating as restaurants with table service. 

All hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals and must stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm, according to the government.