'I still wasn't comfort­able with it at that point,' he says now. Ivar and James were married in the private chapel at Bridwell Park on 22nd September 2018, in a small private ceremony. The girls are very accepting. There have been times when Bridwell, though 'a fifth of the size of Moyns', has also been too much. He's always making me do things I would never have done before. 'I suppose I do quite like to shock. he laughs.

Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. The reception was one of the last family events at their former home of Moyns Park. Penny was aware before we got married. It's that complicated and that simple, but finding James means I will not have to lie to anyone or grow old on my own.". The house is now a successful wedding, conference and corporate events centre. Does he worry at all about Ivar's forth­coming fame as a television star? If you live in these sorts of houses, you have to be hands-on. This site uses cookies to improve your experience and deliver personalised advertising. It virtually ruined me. He also knows about breaking with Matthew Bell, Pride and Joy: Lord Ivar Mountbatten (left) and his new husband, James Coyle relax at home. ", Ivar and James were married in the private chapel at Bridwell Park on 22nd September 2018, in a small private ceremony.

TRIAL OFFER Please, James (left), 58, and Ivar, 57. He also commented - "In an ideal world, I know the girls would like their mother and father still to be together, but they love their 21st Century family that we have built too. ', What the Royal Family will make of Ivar's television appear­ance remains to be seen. It's clear that James has fitted in well to life at Bridwell.
', It's why he has agreed co appear on the new series of The Island, the Channel 4 reality TV series: to show that it is possible to be a fifty ­something gay aristocrat and not necessarily conform to stereotypes. 6,436 Followers, 464 Following, 262 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ivar (@ivar_mountbatten) We had a huge staff - two footmen, fleets of people in the kitchen, and seven gardeners. Together they plan to evolve it further, moving out of the main house into the lodge which they will refurbish and extensively remodel into a large, comfortable house, allowing them to rent the main house out for conferences, away days and more weddings. The British royal family’s first openly gay couple on love, divorce and untidiness . Penny was aware before we got married. ', 'We make a very good team,' says James, turning to the topic of the wedding business. Hope Coke, As autumnal nights approach, here are some royal recommendations to help keep us all entertained at home, By He still keeps a flat in Richmond, and now works part time, doing the occasional long-haul flight.

", "In an ideal world, I know the girls would like their mother and father still to be together, but they love their 21st Century family that we have built too. Amelia Gabaldoni. The reception was one of the last family events at their former home of Moyns Park. Ivar is the first member of the extended British Royal fam­ily to come out publicly as gay. 'I went on a few dates, and that's when I thought, "do I really want to go down that route again, of having girlfriends?" He tells how one of their assistants, Vicky, 'who is quite proper', says it's important to wheel Ivar in 'because she says they like to see the nob.' I care. Ivar's second marriage is the first same-sex marriage within either the Royal Family or the extended Royal Family.

'I suppose that a lot of people might perceive aristocrats to live in big houses, totally surrounded by staff and completely unable to do anything for themselves, which is actually so far from the truth. The sense of relief and freedom they both feel today is palpable. When they go on holiday together, Ivar will make James go abseiling or sky­diving, when all James wants is to lie on a beach.

Penelope 'gave away' Ivar, at the suggestion of their daughters. He will from time to time accompany members of the Royal Family overseas on business trips, and remains close to Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, who are his daughters' godparents. They quickly knew they wanted to be together, and within weeks James had been introduced to Ivar's Family. ', Has Ivar's decision to come out been good for the Royal family?

They met by accident in the Farinet bar in Verbier when James, who works as a senior cabin crew for an airline, mistook Ivar for his ski instructor and shouted 'hello!' In 1997, Ivar and his family moved into Bridwell Park, Uffculme, Devon - a classic Georgian house built in early Regency style between 1774-1779, set in 100 acres with views across the Culm Valley. 'And chat's the delightful thing about Ivar, he makes his mind up about some­thing and sticks to it.

One thing I will say about Ivar is that you're always outside your comfort zone.
She was followed by Alexandra in 1998 and Louise in 2002.

But in the end it became too much work and Ivar sold up. Their father has a boyfriend. I was the first member of the extended family to come out as gay, but I didn’t feel the need to discuss my sexuality with the royals because it’s such a non-issue.

There was no proposal, just an acceptance of this great love. I've got a husband and a ready­made Family. 'Well, you would hope so!' Their father has a boyfriend.

It has been on the market twice in the last five years, last year for £5 million, but has not sold due to the difficult market conditions caused by Brexit. As third cousin of the Queen, great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria and best chum of Prince Edward, Lord Ivar Mountbatten knows a thing or two about tradition. Also Penny has been so open and kind about it. It's a sign of the speed at which public attitudes to gay equality have changed more broadly that Ivar and James say they have yet to receive a single negative reaction from anyone. 'I like to teach him things, make him do things he's not used to. You can opt out at any time or find out more by reading our cookie policy. 'I suppose I'm quite tra­ditional.' They all remain on good terms. It virtually ruined me." Lord Ivar Mountbatten still hasn't got used to the idea of having a husband.

Ivar roars with laughter. 'When I mentioned it to Ella [Ivar's eldest daughter] she was very cool about it,' he says. Both agree that meeting each other was the moment that emboldened them to commit to a new way of life.

I’m still getting used to having a husband. In the old days we’d go to royal events, but it’s been slimmed right down and that seems like the right thing to do. As a direct descendant of Queen Victoria (1819(1837-1901), he is in the line of succession to the British Throne and is a third cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952-    ) and he is also a first cousin once removed to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (b.1921). IvarI’ve been born into a very traditional family and brought up in a very traditional way. You've got to try every­thing once, that's what my mother always said. 'When we first met he had this scraggy beard and was bright red from skiing, having not applied any suncream properly.' The lineages of the Windsors and Mountbattens are closely interwo­ven; Ivar is related to both the Queen and Prince Phillip. But when I look back I think, ''Actually, chat was quite enjoyable."

Only ten years ago, for a member of the Royal Family to come out as gay and remarry to a man would have been unimaginable. 'We have young couples who come over looking to get married, and I only let Ivar talk to them for about five minutes as he starts saying ''Are you sure?

'It's one thing that could have gone really badly wrong for the relationship. across the bar.

We had a lot of fun, we have three fabulous daughters and I don't regret any stage of my life." 'I think they like hav­ing another man in the house,' says Ivar. Ivar was working as a ­mining consultant in Venezuela, South America for seven years before returning in 1993 to take over the ­management of Moyns Park but he was forced to sell in 1997.

‘A Dutiful Boy’ is Zaidi’s story of growing up in a strict Muslim household where to be gay was inconceivable, Penny has a new partner and Ivar's three daughters are entirely accepting of their father's choice, speaking of it without embarrass­ment over lunch.

And finally the biggest thank you to James for being just perfect."

'I just take everyday as it comes. Isaac Bickerstaff, The newlywed royal enjoyed some quality time with her husband’s four-year-old son, From My Beautiful Launderette to Brokeback Mountain, the best LGBTQIA+ films to watch now, Why high-flying barrister Mohsin Zaidi’s memoir of a gay Muslim’s journey to acceptance is a must-read, Lord Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle launch pop-up cafe at Bridwell Park, When the Duchess of Sussex met Gloria Steinem, Royal book club: The works adored by the Royal Family, Princess Beatrice takes stepson Wolfie on supermarket trip. I like to think they can confide in me.' She was understanding and I will always be grateful to her. Ivar lived with his brother and sister-in-law at Moyns Park - an Elizabethan mansion near Steeple Bumpstead, Essex. He cares. This time round, there were no Royal witnesses, though the Earl and Countess of Wessex were invited and sent their warmest wishes. You know when you're a kid you had a little Action Man that you threw out of a window or made a parachute for? Before moving to Bridwell, Ivar had run Moyns, where he was brought up.

Ivar and Penelope separated in September 2010 and divorced in November 2011. 'A lot of people in my generation are worried about coming out because we perceive gay men to be camp stereotypes, like Larry Grayson.' The estate was left equally to Ivar and his brother by the widow of their mother's cousin - John Charles Felix 'Ivar' Bryce (1906-1985), who died in 1992 and quickly became a financial burden on them. Lord Ivar Mountbatten, son of the 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven and cousin to the Queen, is in a reflective mood.

'The family has got very large,' he says. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. The Queen’s cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten and his husband, James Coyle. Perhaps most remarkable of all, there seems to be no losers in their story. Registered in England No. Penelope 'gave away' Ivar, at the suggestion of their daughters. We had a lot of fun, we have three fabulous daughters and I don't regret any stage of my life. But things are changing fast. 'He's not vain at all, oh my god no,' says James. She was understanding and I will always be grateful to her. 'Theres no point worrying about anything like that,' he says. They were quite wayward in the 1940s. He recalls life there in the Seventies and Eighties as being 'like Downton Abbey.