Rihanna and Drake are dating seriously; Beckingham Palace sold

The 'Hold On, We're Going Home' rapper is reportedly the "happiest" he's ever been since rekindling his short-lived romance with the 'Pour It Up' singer and the couple are so smitten with each other they have decided to stop dating other people.

A source revealed to TMZ.com: "[Drake's] in the best mood he's been in a long time."

Insiders claim Rihanna, 26, is serious about committing to Drake, 27, because he treats her so well in comparison to her on-off ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, who left her bloodied and bruised when he physically assaulted her during an altercation in 2009.

The next step in the couple's relationship follows a series of outings together in recent weeks as Rihanna accompanied Drake in a number of locations including London , Paris and Amsterdam throughout the European leg of his 'Would You Like A Tour?' world tour.

Meanwhile, sources close to the couple claim Rihanna and Drake have been headed towards a relationship for a long while following their brief fling in 2009.

An insider told Hollywoodlife.com: "Rihanna and Drake really have this chemistry and vibe with one another and that's something they can't explain. They're both kind of infatuated with each other."

Beckingham Palace sold to insurance tycoon for £11.5m

David and Victoria Beckham's Hertfordshire mansion has been sold to a disgraced insurance tycoon.

The mystery buyer of the sprawling 12-acre estate - nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace' - has been revealed as Neil Utley, the chairman of Hastings Direct, who moved into the couple's former home last month after paying £11.5 million.

According to the Sunday People newspaper, the staggering sum also included the couple's Aston Martin and two Jaguars as part of the deal.

Last year Utley was ordered to pay £130,000 in tribunal costs and banned from working in the Lloyds market for two years after admitting 'detrimental' conduct during his time at motor insurance company, Equity Red Star.

Utley - who stepped down as chief executive of IAG UK, Equity's parent company in 2010 - had allegedly failed to take appropriate measures to ensure there were sufficient financial systems and controls over personal injury claims.

Victoria and David are believed to have used the money from the sale of their former Hertfordshire home to invest in their new £45 million mansion in central London, where they live with their four children, Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 11, Cruz, eight, and two-year-old Harper.

The Beckhams reportedly earned £9 million in profit from the sale after buying 'Beckingham Palace' in 1999 just three months after their wedding.

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