Break out the commemorative tissues — the British Royal family will soon gather to celebrate its first-ever same-sex wedding.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten, third cousin to Queen Elizabeth II and the great-great-great grandson to Queen Victoria, became the first British Royal to publicly come out in 2016 when he revealed he’s bisexual.
At the same time, he introduced airline service cabin director James Coyle as his partner.
Well, it’s been a good two years for the couple, and they’ll tie the knot this summer in the chapel of his Bridewell Park country estate later this summer.
Judging by the fact that Lord Ivar’s ex-wife, Penny, is giving him away during the ceremony, it seems the couple has been embraced.
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The two were married for sixteen years and divorced eight years ago.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, she said: “What I don’t think Ivarrealizess is how much he has changed as a man since he ‘came out.’ James is hugely responsible for that because he’s so much fun.”
Lord Ivar has previously said there was never any deception with Penny:
“Penny was aware before we got married. I told her I was bisexual, that my attraction went both ways.
“We had a lot of fun, we have three fabulous daughters and I don’t regret any stage of my life.”
“I knew from the age of eight I was more attracted to men,” he added. “I definitely think it’s in the genes.”
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“You’re either gay or you’re not.”
Lord Ivar was still closeted when he met James while vacationing in Switzerland.
James, who was openly gay at the time, knew a closet deal-breaker when he saw one.
“If I was going to be with him,” he said, “it had to be in the open with friends and family. I wanted us to be honest, not to hide anything, not to be anything else.”
Lord Ivar’s three daughters have also given their blessing for the coming nuptials.
The news comes shortly after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle captivated the world’s attention.
Bob LaBlah
Considering his position on the totem pole I just don’t think………………..I wish them all the best.
glennmcbride
All I want to know is if the Queen will be attending.
glennmcbride
I mean the real Queen.
j0n62x
Lmao
prarie pup
I suspect there will be quite a few queens in attendance.
strix1
It seems the Royals are trying to keep up with the times and become more mainstream, I mean, Prince Charles & Camilla are going to appear on an episode of MasterChef Australia later this season…a reality show…can’t get more mainstream then that! I’m sure the Queen is loving all this, I know I am.
alfred
Did you actually read the dailymail interview Mr Grant? He told his ex wife before they got married that he was bisexual. But over the years he realised that he was gay. She became unhappy and jealous of the extra marital relationships he had with men – drunk heavily and then eventually left him. He clearly is still somewhat uncomfortable with being gay; “Being completely truthful, it doesn’t sit comfortably with me that I’m going out with a man,’ he confides. ‘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.”
‘Certainly, without doubt, most gay blokes my age would prefer to be heterosexual. The hassle of having to keep it a secret, the . . .’ ‘First of all there’s the suppression of it and disbelief. Then there’s denial. Thankfully, attitudes have changed. I had a really happy childhood but I could never tell my parents I was gay. Where I grew up, gay men were called poofs, queers, everything derogatory under the sun.”
prarie pup
Geez, Lord Alfred Wetblanket. Let’s hope you and your sunny disposition aren’t at the wedding.
Bob LaBlah
@prarie pup…………lol lol lol lol lol ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That one made me pound the top of the desk and nearly knock over my bee,,,,er, um cup of tea. lol lol
Loki
It’s telling that Queerty glossed over the extramarital affairs with men being the cause of his marriage’s breakup. Doesn’t quite line up with the “bi-sexual” pride narrative…
hansniemeijer
Queerty! Stop talking about “gay wedding”, since it doesn’t exist. Like “straight wedding” etc. In 26 countries marriage is a union between two people.
Bryguyf69
I’m not sure what your point is. Although “gay wedding” is not a legal term, it still has sociological and cultural value. Until homophobia and heterocentrism no longer exist, it is still somewhat of a rarity. Just scan the wedding announcements of any newspaper. This particular gay wedding is especially notable since it is the first involving British royalty.
Saying that “gay weddings” don’t exist is like saying that “interfaith weddings” don’t exist. Sure, they are identical to any other wedding, including gay weddings, in the eyes of the law. But they also have features and significance when go beyond the law. And so it is with gay weddings.
hansniemeijer
Bryguyf69! My point is that the term “gay wedding” is and can be considered as a second class wedding, i.e. not a “real” wedding. The mentioned British wedding is not notable, it is just another wedding. Rare or not…..
ElPillo
He is related to Queen Elizabeth, but he’s not a member of the Royal family. Not being a Royal, we can’t say that the Royal family is approving or not as the Queen is completely outside his decision to marry.