A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them, writes Emma Dunn for SWNS.

Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine.

Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school.

Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.

Daniel, an electrician, convinced Philippa to go on a date with him when she found herself single and the pair hit it off.

Philippa Griffiths, 35, and her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37. See SWNS story SWSMschoolfriend. A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them. Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine. Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school. Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.
(Philippa Griffiths / SWNS)

The couple have now been together for 17 years and tied the knot in June 2017.

They welcomed their son Theo - who will be two this month - in March 2022 and feel “grateful” to Philippa’s school friend for introducing them.

Philippa says there is "no animosity" between her and her school friend and they occasionally still stay in touch.

Philippa, an actor, from Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales, said: “I’m grateful I was friends with her.

"I see it as a blessing. I was meant to meet him through her.

“She brought this beautiful person into my life who is a fantastic husband and father to Theo.

Philippa Griffiths, 35, and her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37. See SWNS story SWSMschoolfriend. A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them. Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine. Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school. Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.
(Philippa Griffiths / SWNS)

“Never any regret there."

Daniel said: “I feel things happen for a reason. How our lives played out with other partners at the time led us to be who we were those few years later.

“Bringing us together on a less immature ‘school’ level and on a young adult level mindset with the greater respect for each other.

“So I wouldn’t change it, or feel negative about any of it. I’m now happily married to the love of my life - my best friend.

“We have a beautiful little family and this is everything to me."

Philippa and Daniel first met and became pals when Philippa's school friend started dating him.

She said: "He’d sometimes hang out with us in the playground.

"I just thought ‘what a lovely, kind person you are.’

"I used to call him Action Man because he drove a blue and orange moped to school."

Daniel broke things off with Philippa's friend when he left school at 18 and Philippa didn't speak to him until a year later.

She said: "I was walking along and he was going past in his car and tooted me.

"I thought 'OMG, that's Daniel Griffiths'.

"He started messaging me and being really friendly."

Philippa was dating someone at the time but when they split in January 2007 Daniel reached out asking to take her out.

She said: "I had been heartbroken.

"Mum said ‘what have you go to loose?’

"It was the best decision I made going on that date."

Philippa Griffiths, 35, and her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37. See SWNS story SWSMschoolfriend. A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them. Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine. Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school. Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.
(Philippa Griffiths / SWNS)

Philippa says she didn't feel it was necessary to reach out to her old school friend to ask permission.

She said: "When we got together we didn't even think to ask for her permission it had been two years.

"It wasn't like she was a best mate.

"She'd moved on. There was no animosity there."

The pair hit it off and in March 2007 Daniel asked Philippa to be his girlfriend.

Philippa Griffiths, 35, and her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37. See SWNS story SWSMschoolfriend. A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them. Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine. Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school. Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.
(Philippa Griffiths / SWNS)

Philippa went off to Exeter University to study drama and the pair finally moved in together in 2013.

In April 2014, Daniel popped the question.

Philippa said: "We had a really stupid argument and I turned around and said 'I don't know if you want to marry me?'

"Ten minutes later he was on one knee and said 'of course I want to marry you'."

Philippa Griffiths, 35, and her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37. See SWNS story SWSMschoolfriend. A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them. Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine. Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school. Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.
(Philippa Griffiths / SWNS)

The couple tied the knot in June 2017 and say it was "one of the happiest days of my life".

Philippa said: "I felt everything on that day."

The couple decided to start trying for a baby in 2021 and conceived straight away.

Their son, Theo, was born on March 29, 2022, and the pair are still very grateful Philippa's friend dated Daniel.

Philippa said: "It brought us together.

"If we hadn't met then we would have drifted through school.

"Life is good. We're very lucky."

Philippa Griffiths, 35, and her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37. See SWNS story SWSMschoolfriend. A woman fell in love with her friend's ex and married him - saying she's "grateful" her pal introduced them. Philippa Griffiths, 35, met her partner, Daniel Griffiths, 37, when her school friend started dating him in year nine. Her friend, then 14, and Daniel, then 16, dated for two years before ending it when he left the school. Philippa lost touch with Daniel before he drove past her a year later, tooting his horn, and the pair started messaging.
(Philippa Griffiths / SWNS)