First same-sex royal wedding announced

Lord Ivar Mountbatten, cousin to the Queen and the great-nephew of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, has announced he will be marrying his partner James Coyle. Mountbatten came out in 2016 after a decades-long struggle with his sexual orientation. He is the first openly gay royal.

The two will wed in a private chapel in Devon in a small ceremony with just a few close friends and family, including Mountbatten’s three daughters from his previous marriage, Ella, Alix and Luli.

“Being completely truthful, it doesn’t sit comfortably with me that I’m going out with a man,” Mountbatten has said of his struggles with his sexual orientation. “I’ve lived my whole life as a heterosexual. So, all of a sudden, having a bloke around is unusual — even now. It’s brilliant but I suppose in an ideal world I would prefer to have a wife because that has always been the norm.”

Revealing why he’s decided to remarry, Mountbatten said, “I really wanted to do it for James. He hasn’t been married. For me, what’s interesting is I don’t need to get married because I’ve been there, done that and have my wonderful children; but I’m pushing it because I think it’s important for him.”

Coyle has added: “It’s a very modern marriage. There was no proposal, just an acceptance of this great love. He cares. I care. The girls are very accepting.”

Mountbatten will be walked down the aisle by his ex-wife, Penny Mountbatten, who said: “It was the girls’ idea. It makes me feel quite emotional. I’m really very touched.”

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