Jamie Oliver gushes over wife Jools as they celebrate 18-years married

Jamie and Jools have been "best friends" for 25-years and married for 18. Photo / Instagram

TV chef Jamie Oliver and his wife Jools have posted gushing tributes to one another on Instagram to mark their 18th wedding anniversary.

Now parents to five children, the London-based couple, who are both 43, met in Essex as 17-year-olds, long before Jamie rose to fame as the Naked Chef, reports the Daily Mail.

Jamie called Jools his "soul mate" on Instagram, and told her "thank you for loving me, for being the best wife & most fantastic mother of our 5 precious children", before joking that she should stop watching Love Island and join him in the garden.

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Today I am so proud to celebrate my 18 wedding anniversary with this amazing woman!! Thank you so much @joolsoliver for being my soul mate on this most bonkers roller coaster ride called life, what a journey it’s been so far. Thank you for being by my side, thank you for seeing things I never see, thank you loving me, for being the best wife & most fantastic mother of our 5 precious children....I LOVE YOU SO MUCH....now stop watching love island and come find me in the garden waiting to give you your anniversary pressie....hurry up!!! Love jamie ox x x x x

A post shared by Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) on Jun 24, 2018 at 3:33am PDT

Jools, who in turn called her husband her "soul mate", shared an equally heartfelt tribute, calling Jamie the person who "still makes my heart skip a beat when I see his name on my phone".

Celebrity chef Jamie, wooed model turned fashion designer Jools, with love letters before they dedicated their lives to each other at All Saints Church in Rickling Green, Essex on 24 June 2000.

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Happy happy anniversary my soul mate 💘 the person I want to wake up to every morning. The person who still makes my heart skip a beat when I see his name on my phone. When I really need you, you are there when I am scared you reassure me and when I am tired you make me a dam good cup of coffee!!!! You would do anything for us and most of all you make me feel safe. Love you more than all these words ❤️ xxx

A post shared by Jools Oliver (@joolsoliver) on Jun 24, 2018 at 5:16am PDT

The couple - who are parents to Poppy Honey, 16, Daisy Boo, 15, Petal Blossom, nine, Buddy Bear, seven, and one-year-old River Rocket - poured their admiration for each other into lengthy Instagram posts shared on Sunday night, revealing that they are just as giddy about one another as they were as loved-up teens.

Mother-of-five Jools said: "Happy happy anniversary my soul mate, the person I want to wake up to every morning. The person who still makes my heart skip a beat when I see his name on my phone. When I really need you, you are there when I am scared you reassure me and when I am tired you make me a dam good cup of coffee!!!! You would do anything for us and most of all you make me feel safe. Love you more than all these words xxx".

Jamie wrote: "Today I am so proud to celebrate my 18 wedding anniversary with this amazing woman!! Thank you so much for being my soul mate on this most bonkers roller coaster ride called life, what a journey it's been so far. Thank you for being by my side, thank you for seeing things I never see, thank you loving me, for being the best wife & most fantastic mother of our 5 precious children....I LOVE YOU SO MUCH....now stop watching love island and come find me in the garden waiting to give you your anniversary pressie....hurry up!!! Love jamie ox x x x x".

Both posts prompted a flood of congratulations from followers and fans, with many citing the OIivers' relationship as their "marriage goals".

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Happy new year to all our precious family and friends ❤️2017 has been quite a year, plenty of highs and lows!! so proud to go in to 2018 with my soul mate and best friend in the whole world and my biggest supporter...let's make this year a cracker love you so much 🌙 and thank you guys for all your wonderful comments believe it or not I read every single one the best xxx ❤️

A post shared by Jools Oliver (@joolsoliver) on Dec 31, 2017 at 9:57am PST

One person wrote: "Marriage role models".

Another said: "Congratulations, enjoy your special day together and many more years to come."

The couple, who live in London and share glimpses of their daily family life on social media. have shared their anniversary with followers previously - offering some insight into the early days of their relationship as teenage sweethearts.

The down to earth couple tied the knot when they were both age 25, as Jamie who now has 6.4m followers on Instagram began rising in prominence for his cooking skills.