Robert Palmer Wife: His Marriages, Family, & Personal Life (2026)

Robert Palmer Wife: The story behind the legendary singer’s love, family, and private life is more fascinating than you might expect.

Robert Palmer was one of Britain’s most recognizable singers, with hits like Addicted to Love, Simply Irresistible, and Every Kinda People. Away from his music career, he kept much of his personal life out of the limelight. He married Susan “Sue” Eileen Thatcher, an artist and textile designer, in 1970. The couple had two children, James and Jane, before divorcing in 1993.

Who Was Robert Palmer Wife?

Susan Eileen Thatcher, commonly known as Sue, was Robert Palmer wife for more than two decades. She was not simply known through her famous husband. Sue had her own creative career as an artist and textile designer.

The Warner Textile Archive records that Susan Eileen Thatcher was born in 1947, studied at High Wycombe College of Art, received a travel bursary to Sweden in 1967, and worked at Warner & Sons’ London studio from 1967 to 1971.

Her professional background helps explain why creativity played such an important role in the Palmer household.

How Did Robert Palmer Meet Sue Thatcher?

Palmer met Sue at a railway station in Slough in 1969. According to Palmer’s official biography, he noticed her while she was reading a Jack Vance novel, an author he particularly liked. Her distinctive style also caught his attention.

The meeting happened while Palmer was developing his career as a musician. Their relationship eventually led to marriage the following year.

When Did Robert Palmer and Sue Thatcher Get Married?

Robert Palmer and Sue Thatcher married in 1970. Palmer was 21 at the time. His official biography confirms the marriage and describes Sue as an artist and textile designer working in London.

The couple remained together through some of the most important stages of Palmer’s early career. They also moved between several countries as his music career expanded.

Did Robert Palmer and Sue Thatcher Have Children?

Yes. Robert Palmer and Sue Thatcher had two children, James and Jane. The official Robert Palmer biography states that James and Jane were born in the Bahamas in 1978 and 1979, respectively.

The family spent part of their life in New York before moving to the Bahamas. Later, Palmer and his family settled in Lugano, Switzerland. His children therefore grew up during a period when their father was building an international music career.

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Who Are James and Jane Palmer?

James and Jane are Robert Palmer’s children from his marriage to Sue. They have generally maintained a much lower public profile than their father.

The official biography was written by Jane Palmer, giving readers a rare family perspective on Robert’s life and career. It also confirms that James and Jane were his children and that Sue was his former wife when Palmer died in 2003.

What Did Sue Thatcher Do for a Living?

Sue Thatcher had her own career in the visual arts and textile design.

The Warner Textile Archive identifies her as a textile designer who worked at Warner & Sons in London during the late 1960s and early 1970s. She had studied art and traveled to Sweden through a design-related bursary.

Her creative background was also connected to Palmer’s musical work. Jukebox Saturday Night reports that she was involved with the art direction of his Riptide album and contributed an illustration to its inner sleeve.

This makes her an interesting figure in Palmer’s story because she had an artistic identity of her own while also contributing to the visual side of his career.

How Did Family Life Influence Robert Palmer?

Palmer was famously private, but his family remained an important part of his life while his career became increasingly international.

The family lived in different places, including New York, the Bahamas, and Switzerland. In the Bahamas, their home was close to Compass Point Studios, where Palmer recorded and worked with musicians. His official biography describes their home as a gathering place for visiting musicians and artists.

The Bahamas period was especially important because James and Jane were born there while Palmer was developing his distinctive blend of rock, soul, funk, reggae, and other musical styles.

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When Did Robert Palmer and Sue Thatcher Divorce?

Robert Palmer and Sue Thatcher divorced in 1993. Contemporary and later sources consistently identify 1993 as the end of their marriage.

That means Sue was his former wife when Palmer died a decade later. Some online biographies contain different marriage timelines, but the official Palmer biography and established biographical sources support the 1970 marriage and 1993 divorce.

Who Was Robert Palmer’s Partner After His Divorce?

After his divorce from Sue, Palmer had a long-term relationship with Mary Ambrose.

Ambrose was with Palmer during the final period of his life and was also connected to his music. The official Palmer biography notes that she appeared with him on the cover of his 1994 album Honey and was credited as a co-writer on “Love Takes Time.”

She was also with Palmer in Paris shortly before his death in September 2003. Contemporary reporting identified her as his American partner.

Was Robert Palmer Married When He Died?

No. Palmer and Sue Thatcher had already divorced in 1993.

At the time of his death in 2003, Palmer was in a relationship with Mary Ambrose rather than married to Sue. The Guardian’s obituary described Ambrose as his partner and identified James and Jane as the children from his first marriage.

Where Did Robert Palmer Live With His Family?

Palmer’s family life crossed several countries as his career developed.

New York

After his early years in Britain, Palmer spent time in New York as his music career expanded. His official biography says he and Sue moved there after their home in Britain was flooded in 1975.

The Bahamas

The family later moved to New Providence in the Bahamas. Palmer lived near Compass Point Studios, an important recording location associated with Island Records and a number of international musicians.

James and Jane were born there in 1978 and 1979.

Lugano, Switzerland

Palmer eventually settled in Lugano, Switzerland. He lived there for many years and continued recording and working internationally.

His connection with Switzerland became an important part of his later life, and a memorial service was held in Lugano following his death.

Robert Palmer’s Family and His Music Career

Palmer’s personal and professional worlds often overlapped.

His relationship with Sue connected him to another creative person, while their home environment brought musicians and artists together. At the same time, Palmer developed a career that moved freely between genres rather than following one musical formula.

He worked with groups such as Vinegar Joe and The Power Station and built a successful solo career through albums including Pressure Drop, Double Fun, Clues, Riptide, and Heavy Nova. His 1980s success made him internationally famous.

His family remained separate from much of the celebrity attention surrounding his image.

Why Was Robert Palmer So Private About His Family?

Palmer deliberately kept much of his personal life away from the media.

Contemporary reporting described him as a private person, and much of the available information about Sue and their children comes from biographies, interviews, archival material, and Palmer’s official website rather than constant celebrity coverage.

That privacy is one reason questions about his wife and children continue to appear decades after his death.

What Happened to Robert Palmer?

Robert Palmer died in Paris on September 26, 2003, at the age of 54. He suffered a heart attack while staying in the city during a short break after recording a television appearance in London.

At the time, he was with Mary Ambrose. His children James and Jane were from his earlier marriage to Sue.

Palmer left behind a catalog that continues to attract listeners, particularly his major songs from the 1970s and 1980s and his work with The Power Station.

Robert Palmer’s Family Legacy

Robert Palmer’s family story adds another dimension to the image fans knew from his music videos and tailored suits.

Sue Thatcher had an independent creative career, while James and Jane grew up during Palmer’s international rise. His later relationship with Mary Ambrose also became part of his final years.

Although Palmer died in 2003, his music remains widely recognized. His family connections are also preserved through biographical records and the official website maintained in his name.

Summary

Robert Palmer married Susan “Sue” Eileen Thatcher in 1970, and they had two children, James and Jane. Sue was an artist and textile designer with her own professional career. The family lived in Britain, New York, the Bahamas, and Switzerland during Palmer’s career before the couple divorced in 1993.

Palmer later had a long-term relationship with Mary Ambrose, who was with him during the final period of his life. He died in Paris in 2003 at age 54, leaving behind a major musical legacy and two children from his marriage to Sue.

FAQs

Who was Robert Palmer married to?

Robert Palmer was married to Susan “Sue” Eileen Thatcher, an artist and textile designer. They married in 1970 and divorced in 1993.

Did Robert Palmer have children?

Yes. He had two children, James and Jane, with Sue Thatcher. They were born in the Bahamas in 1978 and 1979.

What did Robert Palmer’s wife Sue Thatcher do?

Sue Thatcher worked as an artist and textile designer. She studied art and worked at Warner & Sons’ London studio during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Was Mary Ambrose Robert Palmer’s wife?

No. Mary Ambrose was Palmer’s long-term partner after his divorce from Sue Thatcher. She was with him shortly before his death in Paris in 2003.

When did Robert Palmer die?

Robert Palmer died on September 26, 2003, in Paris at age 54. Contemporary reports said he died from a heart attack.