Kate pulls out stops for Girl Friday’s wedding
THERE was heartache for the Duchess of Cambridge’s Girl Friday, Rebecca Deacon, when her romance with fellow courtier Nick Loughran ended. Happily, Kate’s loyal private secretary has finally found her own Prince Charming. Two years after splitting from love-rat Loughran, Rebecca, 34, will tie the knot with Adam Priestley in London later this month — and Kate has made every effort to make her big day a success.
The Duchess has given the nod for the marriage to take place at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, which can only be used by those with a connection to the Royal Family.
The intimate ceremony at the chapel — where Prince George was christened in 2013 — will be followed by a champagne reception at St James’s Palace, and dinner and dancing for 120 guests at the Westminster Boating Base. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to attend.
Prince William invited Rebecca (above left, with Kate) to work for his private office in 2007, after she helped run the Concert for Diana.
She was promoted to Kate’s private secretary three years later. My source tells me: ‘Rebecca feels William and Kate have pulled out all the stops for them. Rebecca is down to earth, unpretentious and completely charming.’
The one sadness for Rebecca is that her father, Major Michael Deacon, cannot walk her down the aisle. He died when she was three, and his death inspired Rebecca’s mother to become a vicar.
In 2007, the Reverend Selina Deacon officiated at the wedding of Rebecca’s elder sister Hannah, the middle of her three daughters — but she declines to say whether she will marry her youngest daughter too. ‘It’s all very exciting,’ she tells me.
Rebecca split from Loughran in 2015 after a two-year relationship. He started courting Prince Harry’s blonde assistant, Clara Madden, before quitting the Palace for a career in PR. No doubt his wedding invitation has got lost in the post.