The first Royal family gay wedding has just been announced
Lord Ivar Mountbatten will marry James Coyle later this Summer in the first ever gay wedding in the extended Royal Family
The first ever gay wedding in the extended Royal Family has just been announced.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten, the Queen’s cousin, came out as gay in September 2016 and has revealed he will be marrying partner James Coyle, an airline cabin services director, later this summer.
In a new interview with the MailOnline, Mountbatten revealed that his friends all “accepted” James and their decision to marry.
He said: “All my good friends have accepted James. I basically told everyone: ‘I’ve found somebody – it’s a bloke.’ They just started laughing. Then they met James and one particular mate said: ‘If I was gay, I’d certainly go for him.'”
Later on, Mountbatten revealed the marriage had received the full blessing from the Royal Family, but then stated that he still isn’t completely comfortable with his sexuality.
The 55-year-old said: “Being completely truthful, it doesn’t sit comfortably with me that I’m going out with a man. 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.”
However, Mountbatten explained that he knew from a young age that he was attracted to men: “I knew from the age of eight I was more attracted to men. I definitely think it’s in the genes. You’re either gay or you’re not.”
The Lord also revealed that the wedding was his idea and that he’s doing it for James because he hasn’t been married.
He explained: “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.”
Mountbatten will marry Coyle at a private chapel in Devon in front of the couple’s close friends and family, including Mountbatten’s three daughters from his previous marriage to Lady Penny Mountbatten, but the pair revealed the wedding won’t be completely traditional.
He said: “We went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago and said: ‘We’re not doing that. We’re not cutting cakes. We’re not having a first dance.
“We’ll be pronounced partners in marriage, but the ceremony itself will be very small. It’s just for the girls and close family and friends.”