Patrick Schwarzenegger’s proposal to fiancée Abby Champion would have gone on without a hitch if it weren’t for his brother-in-law, Chris Pratt.
During the Thursday, March 13, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the White Lotus star, 31, opened up about popping the question. “We’ve been together for so long that I wanted to find some way that was going to be kind of unique, and still surprise her,” he told guest host Molly Sims. “And so, we go on a little morning sunrise walk at, like, 6 a.m. down at the beach and that’s when I did it. She was in her pajama pants, or her sweatpants. She had no makeup on.”
Noting that both his and Champion’s families were there for the special moment, Schwarzenegger said that Pratt, 45, nearly spoiled the surprise while getting things ready. “[He] set up an umbrella on the beach, and he set up all these roses and all these flowers, and then right when we walked down, he jumped up with the umbrella and ran away, and there was this beautiful flower arrangement,” he said. “That’s where I proposed.”
Luckily, Schwarzenegger said Pratt didn’t give things away “until the last second,” adding, “[Abby] was like, ‘Is that Chris?’ And I was like, ‘Yup.’”
Patrick Schwarzenegger Celebrates ‘Queen’ Abby Champion on Her Birthday
The couple announced their engagement in December 2023 by sharing sweet proposal pics via Instagram. “
FOREVER AND EVER ,” Schwarzenegger captioned his engagement post, which also featured a photo of him and Champion, 28, posing with a celebration cake.
Schwarzenegger’s mother, Maria Shriver, congratulated the couple in the comments section at the time, writing, “Yippee bravo we are all so happy for you for your love for your now for your future your love is inspiring joy joy joy .”
Patrick is the third of four children Shriver, 69, shares with ex-husband Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with Katherine, 35, Christina, 33, and Christopher, 27. (Arnold, 77, is also the father of son Joseph, 27, whom he shares with Mildred Patricia Baena.)
Patrick and Champion began dating following his five-month fling with Miley Cyrus. The soon-to-be spouses made their romance Instagram official in March 2016, shortly after Us Weekly confirmed the pair were dating.
Last year, Champion and Patrick were spotted enjoying beach time together while the actor filmed season 3 of The White Lotus, which premiered on HBO last month. Patrick exclusively told Us in April 2024 that the couple “haven’t even started” wedding planning.
“We are slow! I’m working right now, so I’m out of town for the next bit,” he shared.
Patrick noted that he and the model “have grown so much, as individuals and in our relationship” over the past few years. “We continue to grow together and separately,” he said. “We started dating when she was 18 and I was 21, every day gets better and better!”
Earlier this year, Patrick called his fiancée his “queen” and his “ride or die” in a sentimental Instagram birthday tribute. “Crazy to think we fell in love 10 years ago!! So proud of the human you are. You continue to inspire me,” he captioned pics of the pair from throughout their relationship on Ferbuary 28. “I love watching your dedication to your family, friends, faith and your work. It’s been a blessing to be on this journey with you & I can’t wait to watch where life takes us. Have the best day & another fantastic year.”
