Lord Ivar Mountbatten (top left) The first member of the Royal Family to come out as gay is set to marry. Lord Ivar Mountbatten opened up about his sexuality in 2016 after a decades-long struggle. Later this summer, the Royal – who is cousin to the Queen and the great-nephew of Earl Mountbatten of Burma – will wed his long-term partner James Coyle, who was by his side when he revealed he was gay. The news comes just weeks after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at Windsor Castle, with the couple making their support for LGBT rights clear in the build-up to the wedding by meeting with young LGBT activists from across the Commonwealth. The Lord, who is the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria, will wed 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, Ella, Alix and Luli. Speaking to the MailOnline, Mountbatten said he had encountered no backlash at all over the planned union – including from his extended family. “All my good friends have accepted James,” he revealed. “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. '” The 55-year-old Royal said he still wasn’t entirely comfortable with his sexuality. “Being completely truthful, it doesn’t sit comfortably with me that I’m going out with a man,” he said. “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.” But, he added, he had accepted that he was born that way. “We were talking with friends in Bermuda about this nature-nurture business not so long ago,” said Mountbatten. “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.’ He said that the wedding was his idea, revealing: “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. “James hasn’t had the stable life I have,” he continued, before turning to his partner, an airline cabin services director, and telling him: “I want to be able to give you that.” Coyle said: “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. “Three years ago they were saying: ‘Wow. Are you guys going to get married?’ “We said: ‘Don’t be ridiculous. It’s absolutely not on the radar at all.’ But gradually it has become something that makes sense. “Now we’ve started to get a plan in place, I’m getting a lot more excited. 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,” he added. “It’s just for the girls and close family and friends.” Mountbatten will be given away by his ex-wife of 16 years, Penny Mountbatten, who said she was delighted by the prospect, revealing: “It was the girls’ idea. “It makes me feel quite emotional. I’m really very touched.”<doc-sep>Another historic royal wedding is set to take place this summer - the family's first same-sex nuptials. Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, first made history when he announced he was gay in 2016 and became the first member of the royal family to do so. Following his announcement, Lord Mountbatten revealed he was in a relationship with James Coyle, who he will marry during the summer. The wedding will be made even more special because Lord Mountbatten’s ex-wife will play a special part in the ceremony, it was revealed at the weekend. Penny, with whom Lord Mountbatten has three daughters, told the Daily Mail she will be the one walking her ex-husband down the aisle. “It was the girls’ idea,” she said of the new wedding details. “It makes me feel quite emotional. I’m really very touched.” Lord Mountbatten’s first royal wedding, which he referred to as "the best day of my life," was attended by the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, who have extended their blessing to the happy couple. Speaking to the Mail, Lord Mountbatten said his royal relatives know of the plans and are “really excited for us.” “Sadly they can’t come to the wedding. Their diaries are arranged months in advance and they’re not around, but they adore James. Everyone adores him,” he told the newspaper. As for the plans for the big day, James revealed that the ceremony, taking place in the private chapel on Lord Mountbatten's estate in Devon, will be small and intimate, with just close friends and family in attendance followed by a bigger reception of 120 guests. And while there will not be traditional wedding components such as a first dance, white doves or a wedding cake, there will be cheese, according to the pair. In pictures: UK's first gay weddings Show all 16 1 /16 In pictures: UK's first gay weddings In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Lesbian couple Sarah Keith (left) and Emma Powell embrace while posing for photographs after their same-sex wedding at the Claremont Hotel in Brighton Reuters In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sean Adl-Tabatabai, center, and Sinclair Treadway, right, pose for photographers with the openly gay mayor of Camden Jonathan Simpson, left, after they were announced officially married in a wedding ceremony in the Council Chamber at Camden Town Hall in London, Saturday 29 March, 2014 AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Helen Brearley (right) and Teresa Millward pose for photographs after getting married at Halifax Register Office Getty Images In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Gay couple Neil Allard (right) and Andrew Wale are married in the Music Room of Brighton's Royal Pavilion shortly after midnight in one of the UK's first same-sex weddings Getty Images In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sean Adl-Tabatabai, third from left, and Sinclair Treadway, fourth from left, pose for photographs with, from left, the openly gay mayor of Camden Jonathan Simpson, deputy superintendent registrar Steven Lord and registrar officer Tania Uddin AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages A woman waves a rainbow flag as gay couple Peter McGraith and David Cabreza leave Islington Town Hall Getty Images In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages A solitary demonstrator holds a placard in protest against the legalisation of same sex marriage, outside St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, London PA In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway look jovial as they tie the knot in front of around 100 guests AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages The rainbow flag flies above British Cabinet Offices, marking the first day Britain has allowed same sex marriages, in London Reuters In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Lesbian couple Sarah Keith and Emma Powell (left) react after their same-sex wedding at the Claremont Hotel in Brighton Reuters In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages A pair of shoes are pictured on a chair at a place setting during the reception after the same-sex wedding of couple Sarah Keith and Emma Powell in Brighton Reuters In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Camden mayor Jonathan Simpson speaks during the ceremony, which took place just after midnight on Saturday AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sean Adl-Tabatabai looks on as his new husband Sinclair Treadway signs official documents AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway hold hands as they celebrate their marriage AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway toast married life AP In pictures: UK's first gay weddings First gay marriages Sealed with a kiss: Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway make it official AP Of the couple's decision to marry and have a wedding, Lord Mountbatten said he wants to do it for his partner. “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,” Lord Mountbatten said. “James hasn’t had the stable life I have. I want to be able to give you that.” Although the Queen has not commented on her cousin's upcoming nuptials, she has previously made statements in support of LGBT rights. During her speech at the State Opening of Parliament in 2017, she said: "My government will make further progress to tackle the gender pay gap and discrimination against people on the basis of their race, faith, gender, disability, or sexual orientation." On May 19 2018, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, made history when she married Prince Harry and became the first mixed-race woman to marry into the British royal family.<doc-sep>While Queen Elizabeth is not expected to attend, Lord Mountbatten says he has the family's full support Lord Ivar Mountbatten will marry James Coyle, his partner of two years, in the monarchy's first-ever same-sex wedding. While Mountbatten will go down in history books as the first Royal to marry a member of the same sex, news of his marriage isn't raising eyebrows in the United Kingdom (File Photo) Meghan Markle made history in May as the first black and American woman to marry into the British royal family. Less than a month later, the royal family announced plans for yet another historic union: Lord Ivar Mountbatten will marry James Coyle, his partner of two years, in the monarchy's first-ever same-sex wedding later this summer.In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mountbatten said the wedding would be held in a private chapel on his estate in Devon. While the members of the core royal family - meaning the Queen Elizabeth II and her direct descendants - are not expected to attend, the couple has the full support of the royal family, Mountbatten told the Mail.Mountbatten, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and descendant of Queen Victoria, became the first Royal to publicly identify as gay in 2016. He has three children with his former wife Penny Mountbatten, who has been openly supportive of her husband's relationship with Coyle. She said last week that she plans to walk Mountbatten down the aisle at the suggestion of their daughters.While Mountbatten will go down in history books as the first Royal to marry a member of the same sex, news of his marriage isn't raising eyebrows in the United Kingdom. According to data collected by the British national census in 2016, over 60 percent of the U.K. do not find anything wrong with same-sex relationships. Same-sex marriage was legalized in most parts of the U.K. four years ago, and while it is still not recognized in Northern Ireland, civil partnerships have been available since 2005.Mountbatten is also sufficiently distant from the throne that his marriage does not raise any issues involving the constitution, said Jonathan Thomas, the publisher of Anglotopia.net who has been covering the British monarchy and British culture since 2007.The royal family still abides by a law passed in 1772, titled the Royal Marriages Act, that requires the first six people in the line of succession to receive permission from the ruling monarch before they marry. (The Queen gave her formal consent to Prince Harry and Markle in March.) Because Mountbatten is so far away from the line of succession, and because he already has children, his marriage to Coyle has little bearing on the leaders of the family. Nonetheless, Mountbatten has broken new ground, Thomas said. "Change happens a lot around the edges, and as people further from the center make changes, these [changes] will increase toward the center," he said.<doc-sep>
Just over a month after Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle, the extended British royal family will have its first same-sex wedding. Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, will marry his partner, James Coyle, later this summer. “We'll be pronounced partners in marriage, but the ceremony itself will be very small,” Mountbatten, 55, revealed in a family interview with the Daily Mail. He met Coyle in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier and came out publicly in 2016, becoming the first member of the extended British royal family to do so. He divorced his ex-wife Penny, with whom he has three daughters, in 2011. She will give her former husband away at the event. “It was the girls' idea,” Penny said, referring to her daughters. “It makes me feel quite emotional. I'm really very touched.” Lord Ivar Mountbatten David M. Benett / Getty Images for Dockers The wedding will take place on Mountbatten’s Bridwell Park country estate in Devon, southwest England. The former geologist and chicken farmer has been running the historic house and its grounds as an upscale wedding venue but it is currently for sale at $6.5 million. It is not clear whether any senior royals will attend the ceremony. Mountbatten is the queen’s third cousin once removed, and the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria. However, his family name gives him a higher profile in British aristocratic circles; he is the great-nephew of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the World War II naval commander who led Allied military forces in southeast Asia. In a reflection of social change, royal attitudes to homosexuality have progressed since 1960 when Jeremy Fry, Lord Snowdon’s choice of best man for his wedding to Princess Margaret, was vetoed after it was discovered he had a conviction for a “minor homosexual offense.” Harry and Meghan, who wed on May 19, have made clear their support of gay rights, reportedly telling gay delegates from across Britain’s former empire, the Commonwealth that they would put LGBT issues at the front of their work. Prince William last year received the annual British LGBT Awards’ Celebrity Straight Ally award. In his acceptance video, he called out homophobic bullying. "In recent years I've been compassionate about what we can do to protect people from bullying, particularly online," he said. "Through this work, I've encountered a number of tragic stories about LGBT young people who have, sadly, felt unable to cope with the abuse and discrimination they face in their lives." William also made history in May 2016 as the first British royal to be featured on the cover a gay magazine.