JAMES MIDDLETON
FINALLY MARRIES HIS LOVE ALIZEE THEVENET IN AN INTIMATE WEDDING IN FRANCE
JAMES MIDDLETON and his fiancée ALIZEE THEVENET tie the knot in France
Their love blossomed after a chance meeting in London and was sealed by a romantic marriage proposal with a dazzling sapphire engagement ring in the Lake District a year later. But it was in his bride’s native France that James Middleton finally said “I do” to Alizée Thevenet.
Watching the happy couple exchange their vows in an intimate ceremony on Saturday were James’s sister the Duchess of Cambridge, together with her husband the Duke and two of their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as his sister Pippa and her financier husband James Matthews, and their parents Carole and Michael Middleton. Two of the couple’s beloved dogs, spaniel Ella and working golden retriever Mabel, also took part in proceedings.
Having declared that he’d “had enough of big weddings”, the big day – which was shrouded in secrecy – was always going to be a relaxed affair, in keeping with the couple themselves. It was third time lucky for James and Alizée, who were forced to postpone their wedding twice due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the end, it took place almost exactly two years to the day since they became engaged.
“They’re just so happy it’s finally going ahead,” a source close to the couple told hello! last week.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Being married is the icing on the cake of the new life the couple have built together. Having said they were ready to quit London life and move to the countryside, last month James revealed they had moved into their new home. “I think buying a house is up there with one of the most stressful experiences in my life,” he wrote. “It’s been a hectic few months moving in to our new home & we couldn’t be happier. We are settling into our life in the country & the dogs [ heart emoji] their new home.”
They had spent much of last year’s lockdown with James’s parents at the family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. The whole Middleton family share a strong bond – on occasion, William jokingly calls Michael “Dad”, while Kate, Pippa and James have all taken on important roles in each other’s weddings; James did a reading when his elder sister married Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011 – all the more impressive as he is dyslexic – while George was a pageboy and Charlotte a flower girl at their Aunt Pippa’s 2017 nuptials.
They also enjoy holidays together: James and Alizée have twice spent the New Year in St Barts with Carole,
‘I can’t wait to take on whatever the future holds for us’