Lady Kitty Spencer has married millionaire tycoon Michael Lewis in a lavish ceremony in Italy, surrounded by her friends.
Princess Diana’s niece, 30, has spent the last week in the country with pals, getting ready for her wedding to the South Africa-born 62-year-old multi-millionaire – who is five years older than her father Charles Spencer.
As the searing summer heat began to ease at 6pm, Princess Diana’s niece said ‘I do’ in front of a hushed congregation in the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, a stunning country mansion with views towards Rome.
It’s thought the bride’s dress was made by Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, with Lady Kitty being a global ambassador for the brand.
The couple were joined by Lady Kitty’s sisters, twins Eliza and Amelia; Viscountess Emma Weymouth and her husband Ceawlin Thynn, the Marquess of Bath; pop star Pixie Lott and her model boyfriend Oliver Cheshire; Idris Elba’s wife Sabrina; and Made In Chelsea star Mark Vandelli.
Also present were 62-year-old Mr Lewis’s three adult children from a previous marriage. Lady Kitty, 30 – the eldest child of Diana’s brother Earl Spencer – is understood to have formed strong relationships with her South African-born husband’s children.
Lady Kitty Spencer, 30, married millionaire tycoon Michael Lewis, 62, in an extravagant ceremony at the Villa Aldobrandini mansion Frascati, Italy, this weekend surrounded by her friends and family
Guests were treated to an incredible light show at the venue last night (left) while musical performers also put on a show under arches of flowers (right)
The newly weds put on a lavish event in Italy, with ornate place settings written in calligraphy and guests were able to enjoy the couple’s special day into the night (left) and right)
The couple were joined by Lady Kitty’s sisters, twins Eliza and Amelia; Viscountess Emma Weymouth (left) and her husband Ceawlin Thynn as well as fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper (right), both of which wore designer dresses
Another famous face on the guest list at the exquisite Italian wedding was Made in Chelsea’s Mark Vandelli. He posed for pictures in the gardens, captioning the snap: ‘Coming for you @KittySpencer’
Artist Piotr Krzymowski also posed in the gardens of the lavish Italian home donning a navy blue suit with a matching bow tie for the event
Jade Holland Cooper posed for pictures with Emma Weymouth in the back of a car, seemingly on their way to the venue
The duo donned their best pouts for some fun snaps in the car ride over to the wedding, fanning themselves to cool down in the Italian heat
In keeping with the Italian theme, fashion house Dolce and Gabbana played a key role. Several guests, including Viscountess Weymouth, socialite and DJ Marjorie Gubelmann and fashion designer Jade Holland Cooper wore the designers’ dresses.
Before the ceremony, Viscountess Weymouth and Ms Gubelmann posted on Instagram that their outfits were made by the Italian duo, while Ms Holland Cooper flaunted a small D & G handbag on the social media site.
Lady Kitty may have also opted to wear the Spencer tiara, a headpiece of diamonds in a floral design of tulips and star-shaped flowers, which her aunt wore for her wedding at St Paul’s Cathedral on July 28, 1981. It is not known if Earl Spencer attended the wedding, but on Friday – when the rehearsal took place – he posted a picture on his Instagram account of the gardens at his Althorp estate.
After the ceremony, Lady Kitty and Mr Lewis treated guests to a feast and dancing before an incredible fireworks display lit up the Italian sky.
Throughout the week, several friends shared social media posts hinting that her nuptials were imminent. Dutch fashion model Marpessa Hennink posted a selfie with Kitty with the words: ‘Team Bride. It’s happening finally.’
Lady Kitty’s siblings Lady Eliza and Amelia, 28, have both remained silent on social media in recent days, while her father Charles shared a video of his home Althorp House yesterday morning.
It is unlikely Lady Kitty’s cousins Prince William, 39, or Prince Harry, 36, have attended the event in Italy amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in the UK and the US.
Guests were treated to incredible views of the town from the expansive balcony of the beautiful mansion and some even seized the opportunity to pose for a picture
Wedding guests are thought to be staying at the five-star Hotel de la Ville in Rome, and include Viscountess Emma Weymouth, singer Pixie Lott and artist Piotr Krzymowski.
Photographer German Larkin shared the sweet straw bag that was left for guests upon their arrival at the hotel, featuring Italian flag colours on the straps and the word ‘baci’ embroidered across it, which in Italian means ‘kisses’.
The bag was packed with an assortment of gifts from the soon-to-be married couple.
On Friday, guests enjoyed a dinner that took place at the Galleria Del Cardinale, a lavish baroque events space in the city.
Inside the venue were several arches covered in floral arrangements which surrounded the seated guests and several heart-shaped cakes were on display with people pictured tucking into them
Guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks display and many of the guests pulled out their phones to document the incredible sight
Sharing the menu on their social media accounts, the meals included a classic veal and tuna salad, beef broth and pumpkin cream ravioli, baked eggplant, and a selection of sweet treats.
Lady Kitty has never publicly spoken about her husband, who she was first seen kissing in August 2019 after leaving Club 55 in St Tropez.
Previously speaking to the summer issue of Town & Country, the model cousin of Princes William and Harry said: ‘It’s not that I don’t place an importance on love. It’s because, for me, love is the most important thing in the world, and I will protect it with all my heart by not making it a topic of discussion.
‘You open yourself up to other people having opinions, and it just isn’t relevant to anybody’s life but mine and my family’s.
Despite staying tight-lipped on her beau, Kitty added: ‘I just look forward to a really happy home life: a happy marriage and happy children. And I feel very at peace that things play out the way they should.’
As the searing summer heat began to ease at 6pm, Princess Diana’s niece said ‘I do’ in front of a hushed congregation in the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati, a stunning country mansion with views towards Rome
Kitty’s fiancé Michael has three adult children and was previously married to a woman named Leola in 1985.
It’s not yet known whether Lady Kitty will convert to Judaism, Mr Lewis’ faith, before the big day.
In June, Lady Kitty was pictured showing off a large diamond ring on her engagement finger at London’s Cash & Rocket Masquerade Ball.
This week, Made in Chelsea star Mark Francis Vandelli uploaded a coy post from Rome simply saying: ‘And so it begins @kitty.spencer’.
Another friend, Simon Huck, posted a snap as he enjoyed a drink on the street in the city, writing: ‘And so it begins.’
While Kitty’s friends appear unable to contain their excitement about the wedding on social media, her family have remained remarkably more tight-lipped.
Lady Kitty’s sister Lady Amelia and Eliza haven’t shared posts for several weeks, while her father Charles Spencer posted a video of the grounds of his home Althorp House yesterday morning.
The model has spent the last week in Italy with friends, with several going on to share posts that hinted that her nuptials were imminent (pictured left, one shared a post captioned: ‘Team Bride’, and right, Mark Francis tagged Kitty in Rome, writing: ‘So it begins…’
Earlier this week, Kitty shared a photograph posing in a leopard print bodycon dress as she posed for a snap on a bridge during a girl’s weekend in Florence.
Several comments appeared to hint at the upcoming big event, with one writing: ‘Yeah, can’t wait to see you!’ Meanwhile artist Piotr Kamil Kryzmowski writing: ‘Can’t wait!’
Just like Diana, the London-born daughter of Diana’a brother Charles Spencer and Victoria Aitken, grew up in the Spencer family seat Althorp in Northamptonshire.
While Kitty is often spotted looking glamorous in the public, her brother Louis, 27, who is set to inherit their father’s title, keeps a lower profile.
‘Primogeniture can be a tricky topic, because as times are changing, attitudes are as well. We’ve grown up understanding that it’s Louis to inherit, and Louis will do an incredible job,’ Kitty added.
Speaking of her childhood, she went on: ‘We have such an emotional attachment to Althorp.
Earlier this week, Kitty shared a photograph posing in a leopard print bodycon dress as she posed for a snap on a bridge during a girl’s weekend in Florence
Several comments appeared to hint at the upcoming big event, with some saying they were ‘so excited’
‘That’s where we would have our Easter-egg hunts and our Christmases; I have my little vegetable patch, I learnt to ride a horse there, I learnt to ride a bike and to rollerblade.
‘It’s so lovely to look back on the history and think everybody else probably learnt to ride a horse there, too.’
The Spencer siblings – including twin sisters Eliza and Amelia – all turned heads when they attended the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
Overnight, Kitty’s Instagram following leapt from 37,000 to a staggering half a million.
‘I woke up the next day and looked at my phone and thought, “Whoops, did I take someone else’s by mistake?”. It was very weird, and a little bit overwhelming.’
Speaking about her relationship with her siblings, Eliza and Amelia, she added: ‘We are a bit of a tripod. It’s been horrible to be separated this year.
‘They are in South Africa, which is only an hour ahead, and with two flights going there a day, you usually have the comforting thought of, “I could always be there in the morning if I needed to be.”
Wedding guests have been making the most of the beautiful Italian sunshine (pictured) ahead of the big event on Saturday evening
Princess Diana’s niece jetted off to the French Riviera earlier last summer. Pictured, in Nemi in a £1,750 D&G dress
‘It’s been awful to be completely shut off, and thinking, come what may, we can’t be there for each other…’
Despite usually living a jet-set lifestyle, Kitty has travelled much less this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last summer, Kitty shared an insight into her very luxurious trip to the French Riveriea and Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Capri, showing off delicious meals and idyllic beaches on her Instagram page.
Kitty has had a global outlook from a young age, growing up between Althorp and Cape Town, South Africa.
As well as studying at the University of Cape Town, she later studied art history and Italian in Florence,
On being a student in Italy, she added: ‘Everything felt so simple and carefree, but you’re still being stimulated in a culturally rich environment.
‘It’s just pure pleasure and learning, and being surrounded by every type of beauty. If I’m lucky enough to live to the age of retirement, Florence is where you’ll find me.’