Eamonn Holmes makes first contact with Ruth Langsford on social media since marriage split as she pays an emotional visit to her ailing mother Joan in hospital

Eamonn Holmes extended an olive branch of sorts on Monday evening after estranged wife Ruth Langsford visited her ailing mother in hospital.

The couple confirmed their 14-year marriage is over in June and are understood to be keen on ushering in a speedy divorce once Christmas and New Year are out of the way. 

Holmes, 65, has already moved on with dating counsellor Katie Alexander, at 43 some 22-years the veteran presenter's junior. 

But he was among well-wishers on Wednesday evening after Langsford, 64, shared a photo from her 93-year old mother Joan's hospital bed - his first notable contact with his former wife since their separation. 

Captioning her post, she wrote: 'Hospital visit….thank you all so much for your lovely messages and well wishes for my darling Mum. She’ll be in hospital for a bit longer yet, but she’s in pretty good spirits considering and I hope she’ll be home for Christmas.' 

The post was met with numerous likes from her celebrity friends, including one from Holmes. 

Joan was rushed to hospital in December after breaking her pelvis during a fall, with Ruth later confirming the news in an INstagram post on Sunday. 

She wrote: 'No dancing in my kitchen peeling the veg for my darling Mum this Christmas….she's had a fall and fractured her pelvis!

'She's ok…ish, no surgery required thank goodness but she needs rest and time to heal now.

'She's in hospital at the moment but I'm hoping to get her home soon.

'This time last year she fell and broke her hip but recovered well…she's a very strong woman so I'm sure she'll recover from this too. 

'Puts life and what's important into perspective eh? Happy Christmas!'  

It's understood that Eamonn and Ruth are hoping to settle their divorce imminently - with Ruth to keep their £3.5million Surrey mansion

'The aim is for Eamonn and Ruth to resolve their divorce as quickly as possible in the New Year,' a source told The Sun.

'Ruth is keen to stay in their marital home as it is where she is settled, Eamonn on the other hand wants to get out and make a fresh start.

'They aren't dragging their heels and want this settled and done as quickly as possible.'

Holmes recently sparked speculation that he is engaged to Alexander after she was spotted wearing a large ring on her engagement finger during a romantic getaway to Paris last week.  

'Eamonn has been talking openly about his plans to marry Katie and has made it clear he wants to spend the rest of his life with her,' a source told The Sun. 

'They’re already living together and he knows it feels right. They have a very strong connection and get on very well.

'She has given him a real lust for life and she looks after him.'

In pictures obtained by the publication, the couple headed to the Louvre, with Alexander wearing a gold diamond ring on her engagement finger. 

The counsellor was not pictured wearing the band at a Christmas carol concert in West London on December 5. 

She has reportedly told friends she is in for 'the long haul' with the GB News host.

She has been helping Eamonn through the split from Ruth, with the couple heading on holiday together in recent months. 

But her friends say she is at pains to point out that their friendship has only grown close once the marriage was over in May.

An onlooker said at the time: 'Katie certainly seems to be able to put a smile back on Eamonn’s face. They seem genuinely besotted with each other.' 

The getaway reportedly left Holmes' estranged wife shocked, with the Ibiza holiday occurring just four months after the former golden couple announced they were divorcing. 

It was reported last month that Langsford has hired a 'fierce' divorce lawyer amid the bitter split.

As reported by The Sun, Catherine Costley has been called up by Loose Women host Ruth who seeks to end her 14-year marriage to Holmes with a financial settlement.

Costley is known for her fierce approach to divorce settlements and has said all women should have a 'go bag' fund when exiting a relationship, according to The Sun.

The divorce lawyer was once an apprentice of 'Steel Magnolia' Baroness Fiona Shackleton, Britain's highest-profile divorce lawyer who famously represented Charles in his split from Diana in 1996.

Baroness Shackleton has also worked with A-list stars including Sir Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher and Madonna.

She was once doused with water in court by a furious Heather Mills while representing the Beatles legend during the couple's divorce in 2008.