Lady Davina Windsor and Gary Lewis: 31 July 2004

[Elsa M.]

The wedding of the 26-year-old bride (who is 20th in line to the British throne) and the 33-year-old Maori renovator (who is a former sheep shearer from Gisbourne, New Zealand) took place at Kensington Palace, London, on Saturday July 31, 2004.


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]From Polfoto:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]1. the groom chats to Roger Wellesley-Smith, the bride's best man, on his way to the chapel;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]2. Lady Davina Windsor escorted by her father, the Duke of Gloucester, on her way to the chapel at KensingtonPalace;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]3-5. just married;[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]6. the Duchess of Gloucester leaves the Chapel Royal by the arm of the groom's father.[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5855/davina1ck8.jpg[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/627/davina2hs4.jpg[/FONT]

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[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8160/davina6io5.jpg[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9660/davina7xd5.jpg[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/9853/davina9el5.jpg[/FONT]

 

[mgrant]

It's not quite what I expected but I love the simplicity of it all. She looked beautiful and very happy. No big fuss, just simple and sweet.

 

[Elspeth]

Well, it's not surprising that the Gloucesters would have a low-key event, like they did for the Earl of Ulster. I'm sure Princess Michael has something much grander in mind for when her two find themselves partners and get married.

 

[Alexandria]

Well, it's not surprising that the Gloucesters would have a low-key event, like they did for the Earl of Ulster. I'm sure Princess Michael has something much grander in mind for when her two find themselves partners and get married.

You're not kidding! When Gabriella and Frederick tie the know, I'm sure Princess Michael will want weddings as grand as Charles' and Diana's!

 

[Elspeth]

Yes - Westminster Abbey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Glass Coach, the Household Cavalry, the London Symphony Orchestra...

 

[samitude]

I doubt Gabriella and Frederik will have large weddings. I don't think their parents did. Their weddings will probably be on the scale of Lady Sarah Chatto's wedding or something like that.

 

[Julia]

I can imagine that Princess Michael (who didn't have a grand wedding herself) will want all of the trimmings for Gabriella and Frederik but it's just a guess.

 

[Alexandria]

Yes - Westminster Abbey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Glass Coach, the Household Cavalry, the London Symphony Orchestra...

Don't forget all the foreign dignitaries, European socialites and Hollywood celebrities that will surely be on the guest list and the week-long festivities!

I doubt Gabriella and Frederik will have large weddings. I don't think their parents did. Their weddings will probably be on the scale of Lady Sarah Chatto's wedding or something like that....

I think Elspeth, and certainly me, mean that Princess Michael has some rather grand expectations and would likely expect a much bigger, fancier, more publicized wedding for her kids than the Gloucester's two children have had so far. I would say that Lady Davina's and her brother, the Earl of Ulster's wedding before her's, was even more low key than Lady Chatto's wedding. Lady Rose's wedding will no doubt be as low key. I would say that while Lady Chatto's wedding was low key in comparison to say Charles and Diana or Andrew and Sarah or even the Wessex wedding, it was still more prominent than the Gloucester wedding. Sarah is the niece of the Queen, while the Gloucester's children are merely second/third cousins of the Queen.

The reason Prince and Princess Michael did not have a big wedding was not necessarily because of Princess Michael's choosing. Prince Michael's decision to marry Marie-Christine (Princess Michael) was a bit of a "controversial" one in that she was a divorcee and of the Catholic faith -- two no-nos for the Anglican British royal family. Were Marie-Christine not a divorcee or Catholic, the circumstances might have been different.

 

[A.C.C.]

Don't forget all the foreign dignitaries, European socialites and Hollywood celebrities that will surely be on the guest list and the week-long festivities!



I think Elspeth, and certainly me, mean that Princess Michael has some rather grand expectations and would likely expect a much bigger, fancier, more publicized wedding for her kids than the Gloucester's two children have had so far. I would say that Lady Davina's and her brother, the Earl of Ulster's wedding before her's, was even more low key than Lady Chatto's wedding. Lady Rose's wedding will no doubt be as low key. I would say that while Lady Chatto's wedding was low key in comparison to say Charles and Diana or Andrew and Sarah or even the Wessex wedding, it was still more prominent than the Gloucester wedding. Sarah is the niece of the Queen, while the Gloucester's children are merely second/third cousins of the Queen.

The reason Prince and Princess Michael did not have a big wedding was not necessarily because of Princess Michael's choosing. Prince Michael's decision to marry Marie-Christine (Princess Michael) was a bit of a "controversial" one in that she was a divorcee and of the Catholic faith -- two no-nos for the Anglican British royal family. Were Marie-Christine not a divorcee or Catholic, the circumstances might have been different.

For the wedding of the children of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, I think their weddings will be more elaborate than Lady Davina's. I assume there woud be at least one gala, banquet, or party the night before, probably at Kensington Palace (depending on where the weddings take place) that would no doubt be grand. Yet Lady Davina had a low key wedding because she is a low key person, and Freddie and Gabriella aren't as low key. On Prince and Princess Michael's own marriage, I think even though she was divorced and Catholic, his mother Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent who didn't live to see the marriage, would have supported it simply because she wanted all of her children to marry people of royal or noble birth and Michael is the only one that came close.

 

[Elspeth]

I doubt Gabriella and Frederik will have large weddings. I don't think their parents did.

No, but from what I remember, it wasn't for want of trying. I thought they were planning some big event in the cathedral in Vienna but her previous marriage meant that she couldn't, and at the last minute that part of the wedding was called off.

She has such a high profile in comparison with the Duchess of Gloucester (who apparently gets misidentified as a lady in waiting fairly often) - there's hardly an issue of Majesty magazine without photos of her, and we're forever hearing about what her children and husband are up to and how she feels about this, that, and the other - that the chance to strut her stuff at a big society wedding of one or other of her children will be quite appealing. Whether the children can overrule her if that's not what they want is another matter, of course. She said just the other day that she was under her husband's thumb, so maybe she's really this meek character and we're all misunderstanding her. Lady Helen Windsor had a much more highly publicised wedding, in St George's Chapel with several members of the royal family invited, than either of the Gloucester siblings. I'm sure Princess Michael would be wanting something at least as prominent as that.

 

[pdas1201]

From Rex Features:
1. Married Couple
2. Alexander Windsor, The Earl of Ulster (sister of the groom)
3. Captain Mark Phillips and his wife Sandy

 

[Scott]

I can imagine that Princess Michael (who didn't have a grand wedding herself) will want all of the trimmings for Gabriella and Frederik but it's just a guess.

I would imagine that Lady Gabriella will have a wedding similar to her cousin Lady Helen Taylor (nee Windsor) at St George's Chael Windsor. (same place as Edward & Sophie and also The PoW and Camilla) . Depends who Freddie marries where his mariage would take place.

Scott

 

[Jang]

where does she live now?
Did her relatives go to her wedding like queen,prince charles,princess alexandra,...?

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

where does she live now?
Did her relatives go to her wedding like queen,prince charles,princess alexandra,...?

No,Jang,as it is supposed to be a private event,so her other relatives were not there.

I really like the Duchess of Gloucester's dress at the Wedding.Her Royal Highness looks really elegant and stylish as usual.

 

[Elspeth]

Thanks for the photos, Elsa! A real country wedding in the heart of London.

 

[PreDoc]

I really like the bridesmaids dresses they add so much beautiful color, I had mine wear pale blue too ... so perhaps I'm biased

 

[jacadenasso]

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent who didn't live to see the marriage, would have supported it simply because she wanted all of her children to marry people of royal or noble birth and Michael is the only one that came close.

Actually, all the children of Princess Marina married nobles.
The current Duchess of Kent is the daughter of a Baronet, and her maternal grandfather was also a baronet.
Sir Angus Ogilvy was the son of the 7th Earl (= Count) of Airlie and of Lady Alexandra Coke (herself the daughter of the Earl of Leicester).
And finally, Pushy is the daughter of a Baron and a Countess, and through her maternal grandmother she has quite an interesting pedigree.

 

[HRHAmy]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked yet but is there a reason why Davina didn't wear a tiara to her wedding?

 

[kelly1972]

I'm not sure if this question has been asked yet but is there a reason why Davina didn't wear a tiara to her wedding?

I'm really not sure why. Maybe because Lady Davina thought that because it was a simple, quiet ocassion in a chapel there was no need to wear one. Of course that is my personal opinion. Anyways, I really loved the simplicity of her wedding. She was a beautiful bride.

 

[marezdote]

It seems like it was a very nice simple wedding. My very favorite picture is the 4th one in the first post because they just seem so very happy. I also really love the color of the flowers in her bouquet.

 

[kelly9480]

Actually, all the children of Princess Marina married nobles.
The current Duchess of Kent is the daughter of a Baronet, and her maternal grandfather was also a baronet.
Sir Angus Ogilvy was the son of the 7th Earl (= Count) of Airlie and of Lady Alexandra Coke (herself the daughter of the Earl of Leicester).
And finally, Pushy is the daughter of a Baron and a Countess, and through her maternal grandmother she has quite an interesting pedigree.

The older two didn't marry nobles, they married aristocrats. In the UK, only the holder of the peerage is a noble -- his family are aristocratic commoners (the constitution recognises only sovereigns, peers and commoners, so there's no special legal significance to being the close relative of a peer).

The UK doesn't formally recognise foreign titles of residents, and Austria doesn't recognize titles either, so MC's "title" was meaningless.

 

[Elspeth]

Let's not get too far off topic, please. This isn't a thread about the Kents.

Thanks.

Elspeth

Old New Royal and Blue moderator

 

[Lady Jennifer]

It seems like it was a very nice simple wedding. My very favorite picture is the 4th one in the first post because they just seem so very happy. I also really love the color of the flowers in her bouquet.

I do too. I was always struck with how beautiful her flowers were. Does anyone know what kind of flowers they are?

I'm not sure if this question has been asked yet but is there a reason why Davina didn't wear a tiara to her wedding?

I think a tiara would have been too much for this wedding, but thats my own opinion of course. I think she looks great without one.

 

[HRHAmy]

I agree a big tiara would have looked out of place but not a small one. Laura Parker-Bowles had a small wedding and wore a tiara, I guess it's the bride's prefrence. Oh well, I think she would have looked great in one.

 

[CasiraghiTrio]

Gary Lewis wed Lady Davina Windsor
1700 (5:00 pm) on Saturday, 31 July 2004 at the private Kensington Palace Chapel Royal
The Reverend Prebendary Willie Booth married the couple.
The Father of the Bride: HRH Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester
The Mother of the Bride: HRH Birgitte, The Duchess of Gloucester
Parents of the Groom: Larry and Viki (née Carr) Lewis
"Best man" of the Groom: Nick Harvey from New Zealand
Maid of Honor for the Bride: Lady Rose Windsor (sister)
Other guests
* Alexander, The Earl of Ulster
* Captain Mark and Sandy Phillips
* Ari Lewis (then 11-year-old son of the groom) who read a Gaelic prayer in the service
* Gary's siblings: Older sister Donelle, and two younger brothers, Ian and Hore
* Many other members of Gary's family who are discussed a lot in this Telegraph article
* Richard Walter John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, (then) The Earl of Dalkeith (Bride's godfather, who is now The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensbury as of this year)
* Roger Wellesley Smith (Bride's godfather, like Mark Phillips)
* Baroness Caroline Rosenorn (Bride's godmother and possibly her aunt)
* Lady Camoys (Bride's godmother)
* Mrs. Michael Wigley (Bride's godmother and Birgitte's lady-in-waiting)
​

 

[Zonk]

Captain Mark Phillips is also a godfather to Lady Davina Windsor Lewis. Thanks for the updated guest list...this is definitely one of my favorite low key royal weddings.

 

[Christo's Girl]

This is great favourite of mine as well. I loved the colour of her flowers, and her bridesmaids were lovely. Great colours all around.

 

[Nichola]

I agree. I found the simplicity of everything really romantic.

I'm surprised they haven't started a family by now...they will have been married four years next year!

 

[claypoint2]

I would say that Lady Davina's and her brother, the Earl of Ulster's wedding before her's, was even more low key than Lady Chatto's wedding. Lady Rose's wedding will no doubt be as low key. I would say that while Lady Chatto's wedding was low key in comparison to say Charles and Diana or Andrew and Sarah or even the Wessex wedding, it was still more prominent than the Gloucester wedding. Sarah is the niece of the Queen, while the Gloucester's children are merely second/third cousins of the Queen.

Please forgive the nit-pick, but "Lady Chatto" is not the correct form for referring to Lady Sarah Chatto, née Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones. Her father was elevated to the peerage and became the Earl of Snowdon upon his marriage to Princess Margaret, so his daughter is entitled from birth to use the title of "Lady" before her first name. In other words, she is "Lady Sarah," or "Lady Sarah Chatto," but not "Lady Chatto."

By contrast, a woman who was not born into the aristocracy but who is married to a knight may use the title of "Lady" followed by her husband's last name. So, for example, the wife of Sir Sean Connery (the actor who was knighted by the Queen in 2000) may be addressed as Lady Connery but not as Lady Micheline.

 

[claypoint2]

The older two didn't marry nobles, they married aristocrats. In the UK, only the holder of the peerage is a noble -- his family are aristocratic commoners (the constitution recognises only sovereigns, peers and commoners, so there's no special legal significance to being the close relative of a peer).

The UK doesn't formally recognise foreign titles of residents, and Austria doesn't recognize titles either, so MC's "title" was meaningless.

Ok, I hope I'm not getting on my high horse here, but given that virtually all aristocracies (as forms of government) evolved through the rule of hereditary nobility, the terms "aristocrat" and "nobleman" have become virtually interchangeable. The phrase "aristocratic commoner" is an oxymoron.