Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward make discreet appearance at goddaughter Ella Mountbatten’s wedding

Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh made a discreet appearance at a family wedding over the weekend, joining the celebrations for Edward’s goddaughter, Ella Mountbatten.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were among the guests at the wedding of Ella, the eldest daughter of Lord Ivar Mountbatten, and Fergus Wright. Their attendance was reported by Tatler, with the couple keeping a notably low profile during the private celebration.

After the ceremony and reception, guests watched as Ella and her new husband departed in a classic car. The bride was photographed wearing a tiara, adding a distinctly elegant touch to the occasion.

Ella works for private jet fleet Flexjet in brands and partnerships, while Fergus has his own connections to the world surrounding the British aristocracy and royal family.

Fergus is the son of Nicholas Richard Wale Wright and Lucinda Benson, who was a goddaughter of Princess Margaret. He works as a Marketing Manager at Sky Sports Racing.

A wedding with close royal connections

Ella’s marriage brought together two families with longstanding links to Britain’s aristocratic and royal circles.

Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Ella’s father, is King Charles’s second cousin and the great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. Ella herself has an especially close connection to the Edinburghs: Prince Edward is her godfather, while her younger sister Alexandra has Duchess Sophie as her godmother.

The relationship between the Mountbatten family and the Edinburghs goes well beyond their godparent connections.

Lord Ivar has long been close to Prince Edward and Sophie, and has regularly hosted them at Bridwell Manor. He has previously spoken about staying with the Edinburgh family at their Bagshot Park home in Surrey, while Sophie has also stayed with the Mountbattens at Bridwell.

Speaking to HELLO!, Lord Ivar described their friendship, saying that Edward and Sophie are clearly good friends. He explained that Sophie would often stay with them when visiting Devon, while he and his husband, James Coyle, would travel to Surrey to spend weekends with the Edinburghs during the winter.

Lord Ivar is also godfather to Edward and Sophie’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, adding another layer to the longstanding relationship between the two families.

Ella and Fergus announced their engagement in 2025

Lord Ivar announced Ella and Fergus’s engagement last year in an Instagram post featuring the couple and Ella’s engagement ring.

He wrote: “I couldn’t be happier to announce the engagement of my eldest and most precious daughter Ella @ellamountbatten to her fabulous boyfriend Fergus.”

The proud father then joked about how long Fergus had taken to propose.

“Ferg is not one to be rushed so I am incredibly pleased that he has finally put us all out of our misery! I know he will look after my daughter to his dying day – they couldn’t be better suited. Enjoy this special time in your life. Much love to you both.”

The engagement was announced in July 2025, when Lord Ivar shared a photograph of the couple showing off Ella’s distinctive green gemstone engagement ring.

Ella and Fergus have now celebrated their wedding surrounded by family and friends, including members of the Edinburghs’ close circle.

The Mountbatten family’s close bond with the Edinburghs

Lord Ivar shares three daughters with his former wife, Penny: Alexandra, Louisa and Ella Mountbatten. He and Penny divorced amicably in 2011.

His relationship with the Edinburghs has remained close over the years. Lord Ivar has spoken warmly about the time the families spend together, both at his Devon home and at Bagshot Park in Surrey.

That friendship helps explain why Edward and Sophie were present for such an important occasion in Ella’s life. Their roles as godparents have also created a particularly personal connection between the two families.

For Ella, the wedding marked an important family milestone. For the Edinburghs, it was a chance to support someone who has been part of their wider family circle for many years.

Sophie faces a busy week ahead

The wedding came at the start of an especially busy period for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with their son, James, Earl of Wessex, preparing to begin university.

James is due to study Rural Land & Property Management at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester from September. The university’s new students are due to move into on-campus accommodation from Sunday, ahead of an induction programme the following week.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the news in August, stating: “Having achieved the grades he needed, the Earl of Wessex will be going to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management. He will head straight there without taking a year out.”

The 18-year-old secured the grades required for his chosen course after receiving his A-level results. His subjects and grades have not been disclosed.

While James prepares for this next chapter, Sophie is also undertaking an overseas programme of engagements.

Duchess Sophie in Zambia

This week, the Duchess of Edinburgh is in Zambia as part of efforts to celebrate the relationship between Zambia and the UK.

Her programme includes visits to Lusaka, the Lower Zambezi and Livingstone, as well as Community House, where she is scheduled to meet President Hichilema.

Sophie arrived in Lusaka on September 14 and was welcomed by British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon. During her first engagements, she attended an Eye Health Charities Reception in her role as Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

With a family wedding behind them, James preparing to leave for university and Sophie undertaking a packed overseas programme, the Edinburghs have plenty keeping them occupied as the new academic year begins.