Sealed with a kiss: Lady Gabriella Windsor marries in front of Royal Family
The bride's tiara was worn by both her mother and grandmother on their wedding days.
Sunday 19 May 2019 04:43, UK
Lady Gabriella Windsor and husband Thomas Kingston shared a kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel after their wedding ceremony, attended by many of the royal family.
The bride made her entrance in an elegant lace wedding gown by Italian designer Luisa Beccaria.
She wore a Russian Fringe-style tiara also worn by her grandmother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, and her mother, Princess Michael of Kent, for their wedding days.
Lady Gabriella's hair was styled in elegant curls, with a long veil designed in a similar fashion to the dress.
Embroidered with flowers and embellishments, layers of blush-coloured tulle and organdie created the body of the wedding gown under the lace, fanning out for a long train.
Matching her nickname of Ella, the bride had a creamy ivory Ella rose in her bouquet alongside myrtle, a tradition in many royal bridal flower arrangements.
Mr Kingston arrived at the chapel on foot with his best man, closely followed by the mother of the bride, in a lilac gown and embroidered overcoat, who was accompanied by Lady Gabriella's brother.
Guests were ferried in vintage buses to the precincts of Windsor Castle and then walked down the hill to take their seats in St George's Chapel for the ceremony.
The Queen led the royal family at the wedding and was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, who made a rare public appearance. She was the guest of honour as a first cousin once removed of the bride.
Prince Harry, who lives nearby in Windsor's Frogmore Cottage, arrived without the Duchess of Sussex who gave birth to baby Archie on 6 May.
Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge and friend of the groom, was also among the guests at the ceremony.
Prince William could not attend the wedding as it clashed with the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, where he will be presenting the trophy to the winners.
The wedding was followed by a private reception at Frogmore House.
The venue has a "personal resonance" for the couple since Lady Gabriella's grandparents, the late Duke and Duchess of Kent, are buried at Frogmore.
However unlike the past two royal weddings, there will be no reception hosted by the Queen inside Windsor Castle.
The cake was made by Fiona Cairns, the same cake maker to William and Kate, and was made of three tiers, comprising "fruit cake, Victoria sponge and lemon Limoncello sponge".
The decoration of blush icing and a leaf border took inspiration from the inside of Frogmore House and included seasonal sugar flowers and shades of the lacework on the Bride's wedding dress.
Guests at the afternoon reception tucked into smoked Scottish salmon and asparagus risotto and canapes, as well as Caragh Chocolates from the Isle of Sark, where the couple became engaged.
It is the third royal wedding in the 15th-century venue in less than a year after the star-studded nuptials of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex last May and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in October.
Lady Gabriella Windsor, 38, is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and is 52nd in line to the succession of the British throne.
Her engagement to Bristol University graduate Mr Kingston was announced by Buckingham Palace in September 2018.
Lady Gabriella's now husband has held several high-powered jobs in finance, and in 2003, he moved to Baghdad where he worked to procure the release of hostages.
He has reportedly dated Pippa Middleton and attended her wedding to James Matthews with Lady Gabriella in 2017.