Harris 'approved of Aitken romance'

Aitken said he "became good friends" with Harris

Actor Richard Harris gave his blessing to former minister Jonathan Aitken to rekindle his romance with the actor's ex-wife, Aitken has said.

Aitken, who plans to marry Elizabeth Harris, described how he visited the star in hospital shortly before his death in October.

The pair struck up a bond and became good friends, Aitken said.

"He gave our romance a full and enthusiastic blessing," he said.

He was very, very positive about it [the romance] and told his sons

Jonathan Aitken

The shamed former politician, who was sentenced to 18 months in jail for perjury three years ago, added: "I became very fond of Richard before he died.

"The one thing we know, he was very, very positive about it and told his sons.

"He knew and told them he was happy. My own ex-wife is also happy for us."

Aitken will marry Elizabeth Harris in the summer.

Her former husbands also include actor Sir Rex Harrison and Aitken's cousin Peter.

Aitken initially had no plans to remarry

The couple, both in their early 60s, began a relationship nine months ago after resuming an old romance.

Aitken said he had had no plans to get married after divorcing Lolicia, his wife of 19 years.

But that changed after he was reunited with Elizabeth, the daughter of Irish peer Lord Ogmore who runs a public relations company.

Elizabeth, who had three sons with Richard Harris, remained friends with him after their divorce in 1968.

Harris, 72, died in hospital in London on 26 October after losing his battle with Hodgkin's Disease.

The star of film classics like This Sporting Life, Gladiator and Unforgiven had become known to a new generation of film fans through his role as Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series.