Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston's royal wedding: couple share a kiss after marrying in St George's Chapel

The setting was familiar, the traditions the same, and for some of the guests it may have been a case of déjà vu, yet in comparison to its predecessors, the third Royal wedding in the space of a year was a markedly lower key affair today.

At Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of the Queen's cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, married her long-term boyfriend, Thomas Kingston, almost a year to the day since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tied the knot in the same venue.

The newly wed couple were all smiles as they left the church and kissed on the steps of the 15th century chapel in front of guests which included the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Harry.

The Duke of Sussex was not joined by his wife Meghan or newborn son Archie. He was pictured in jovial spirits laughing with his grandfather The Duke on the steps of the chapel following the ceremony.

Here's your guide to the big day, from the high society guest list, reception details and the story behind the bride's gown.

Who are the newlyweds?

Lady Gabriella, 38, who is known as Ella, had been dating Mr Kingston for a number of years when he proposed last summer. Her father, Prince Michael, is the Queen's cousin.

Not a working royal, she is employed as an arts and travel director for brand company Branding Latin America, based in Knightsbridge, London.

Her older brother, Lord Frederick 'Freddie' Windsor, is married to Peep Show actress Sophie Winkleman (aka 'Big Suze') and the pair have two children Maud, five, and Isabella, three.

Mr Kingston, 40, is a director of Devonport Capital, which specialises in providing finance for companies in "frontier economies" and is a close friend of Pippa Middleton.

The couple have been dating for a number of years and he proposed while they were on the Isle of Sark last August.

Who designed the wedding dress?

Lady Gabriella wore a gown designed by Italian couturier Luisa Beccaria, who is a longtime friend of the Kent family.

Created from layers of organza and tulle, Ella added a subtly modern touch by incorporating some layers in blush pink. At first, she had thought she wanted an entirely blush dress but when she knew she would be marrying at Windsor in the presence of the Queen, the design became more muted.

The top layer is made from Valenciennes écru lace layered with ribbons of flowers and buds. Her veil is six metres long and made from layers of cream, gold and blush tulle. And that dazzling tiara is the Kent Russian fringe-style tiara which was first worn by the bride's paternal grandmother, Princes Marina of Denmark and Greece when she married Prince George, the youngest son of King George V.

Lady Gabriella's nine bridesmaids and pageboys also wore Luisa Beccaria designs which echo the wedding gown.

Read more about Lady Gabriella's wedding dress here.

Who was in the bridal party?

The bridal party was sizeable, including no fewer than three best men: Mr Benjamin Crow, Mr Daniel Crow and Mr Jamie Campbell.

There were also six bridesmaids. Miss Isabella Windsor and Miss Maud Windsor, the children of the bride's brother, Lord Frederick Windsor and Sophie Winkleman, were among them, as were Miss Leonara Weisman, Miss Aurelia del Drago, Miss Emily Conolly and Miss Eliza Goldsmith, the three-year-old daughter of Ben Goldsmith.

The pageboys were Master Frederick Murray, Master Rafferty Murray and Master Karim Khawaja. Miss Estella Taylor, Miss Jessie Conolly and Miss Hannah Conolly were Special Attendants.

Who was on the guest list?

Described as “the society event of the spring”, the wedding was not short of familiar faces.

The Queen, wearing a pink Stewart Parvin coat and Rachel Trevor Morgan hat, led the royal family at the wedding and was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, making a rare public appearance.

The Duke of Sussex left his wife Meghan and baby son Archie at home to attend the wedding and arrived with his uncle and aunt, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal, who was joined by her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence.

The Duke of York arrived by car with his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, and their daughter Princess Beatrice and her boyfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge and friend of the groom, was also among the guests at the ceremony. She attended with her husband James Matthews, her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and brother James Middleton who was accompanied by his French girlfriend Alizee Thevenet.

Other famous faces include Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, financier and environmentalist Ben Goldsmith, brother of Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, along with his wife Jemima Jones.

Dancer Fernando Montano, a soloist with the Royal Ballet who has previously danced in front of the Duchess of Cornwall, posed in his stylish wedding attire on Instagram.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge didn't attend. Prince William is due to appear at the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Watford FC at Wembley Stadium later today in his capacity as President of the Football Association.

Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, were also notable absentees. They are believed to be on holiday.

What do we know about the ceremony?

The hymns sung by the congregation were Tell Out My Soul, Be Thou My Vision and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

The readings were taken from Ecclesiastes III, Philippians IV, a passage from Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost, and O Tell Me The Truth About Love, by WH Auden.

They were read by Joanna Conolly, Emma Murray, Sophie Winkleman and Sarah St George.

The bride and groom chose Paul Thomas to design the flower arrangements for the service.

Lady Gabriella’s bouquet featured a creamy ivory ‘Ella’ rose by David Austin, named for the bride, and myrtle, in keeping with the Royal tradition started by Queen Victoria. Flowers included Juliet roses, Lily of the Valley and white and apricot sweet peas.

The cherry and apple blossom trees and shrubs which stood outside St George's Chapel were from Hillier Nurseries.

What about the reception?

The wedding reception is being held at Frogmore House, where Meghan and Harry staged their wedding dinner, and the bride and groom will cut a cake made by Fiona Cairns, who also created the Sussexes wedding cake.

The three-tiered confection was made with three recipes including fruit cake, Victoria sponge and lemon Limoncello sponge. It featured pale blush icing, and the leaf border surrounding the base was inspired by fabric within Frogmore House.

The decoration included seasonal sugar flowers and shades of the lacework on the bride's wedding dress.

Guests at the afternoon reception were served smoked Scottish salmon and asparagus risotto and canapes, as well as Caragh Chocolates from the Isle of Sark, where the couple became engaged.

Flowers at the reception were by John Plested.

St George's Chapel

The couple opted for St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to hold the ceremony, the same location the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank chose for their 2018 weddings.

St George's Chapel has been a venue for royal weddings since the future King Edward VII married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863.  Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, married Sophie Rhys-Jones - now the Countess of Wessex - there in 1999. Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, married Autumn Kelly in the chapel in 2008.

The Prince of Wales also celebrated his marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall there in 2005 with a service of dedication and prayer led by then-Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

Tucked away within the grounds of Windsor Castle, it is a more low-key venue than central London alternatives Westminster Abbey, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got married, or St Paul's Cathedral, the choice of Prince Harry's parents Prince Charles and Diana.

While its original building dates back to the 13th century, the chapel as seen today began with King Edward IV in 1483.