Royal wedding at the Vatican

British royal history was made when the least known and most private of all the members of the British Royal Family became its first to marry within the Vatican City, on Saturday. Lord Nicholas Windsor, 37, younger son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, married British born Croatian noble Princess Paola Doimi de Frankopan in a private ceremony at the Church of St Stephen of the Abysinians situated within the papal gardens.

The couple were earlier received in audience by Pope Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace, during which the Holy Father extended a personal blessing to the couple and their families on the occasion of their marriage - "evoking the abundance of joy and peace upon you in your Christian married life and entrusting you to the care of our Blessed Lady, Queen of the Family".

More than 180 close friends and family attended the Nuptial Mass, which was celebrated in English and Latin by Bishop Alan Hopes, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. The Duke of Kent, and Paola's brother Prince Peter Doimi de Frankopan, read the readings. A special prayer was said for The Queen who had formally approved the marriage at a recent Privy Council meeting as is required by law. The wedding ceremony was the culmination of the couple's six-year relationship.

Lord Nicholas, whose mother, the Duchess of Kent, became the first and most senior member of the Royal Family to convert to Roman Catholicism, himself converted in 2001. The Duke and Duchess of Kent, Lord Nicholas brother the Earl of St Andrews and his sister Lady Helen Taylor attended together with senior representatives of some of Europe,s reigning and non-reign royal families. Ambassador Prince Hugo Windisch Graetz was Lord Nicholas' principal witness.

"Faith is an essential part of their relationship and to have been able to marry in the Eternal City was a long held wish of theirs that came true", said the couple's spokesman, Anthony Bailey.