Former British tennis star and television presenter Annabel Croft celebrated a special family occasion on Saturday as her daughter, Lily Saffron Coleman, married insurance executive Felix McCorquodale in a lavish ceremony in London.
Lily, 28, and Felix, 31, exchanged vows at St Mary’s Church in Battersea, surrounded by relatives and close friends.
The newlyweds emerged from the church to cheers and confetti, accompanied by live bagpipe music in tribute to Felix’s Scottish heritage.
The wedding was a proud moment for Annabel, 60, who rose to prominence as a tennis player before becoming a familiar face on television, including as a BBC Wimbledon pundit.
She also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023.
Lily shared photographs from the celebrations on Instagram, describing the occasion as the “best weekend ever”.
Her older sister, Amber Llewellyn, also posted about the wedding, calling it “the happiest day!”
Bride Stuns in Ivory Gown as Couple Celebrate in Style
The bride wore an elegant ivory gown featuring a draped neckline, sheer sleeves and a long, flowing train.
She completed her look with a bouquet of pink, purple and burgundy flowers.
Felix opted for traditional morning dress, wearing a dark tailcoat with striped trousers, a pale pink waistcoat and a matching tie.
Following the ceremony, the couple travelled to their reception in a vintage black convertible decorated with ribbons, a “Just Married” banner and a sign bearing the family name, “The McCorquodales”.
Lily later changed into a short white dress adorned with feathers, paired with bright pink platform heels, for the evening celebrations.
Photographs shared from the day showed the newlyweds kissing, posing with relatives and enjoying the festivities.
Guests celebrated around banquet tables decorated with colourful flowers, candles and striped lamps, with personalised menus and place settings.
The wedding cake, decorated with flowers and fruit, was supplied by The Clementine Kitchen, the catering business run by Sara Gardiner and James Fiddian.
Dancing continued into the evening beneath a glittering disco ball.
Felix’s Family Connection to Princess Diana
Felix is related to the late Raine Spencer, formerly Raine McCorquodale, who became Princess Diana’s stepmother when she married Diana’s father, John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, in 1976.
Raine was the daughter of romantic novelist Barbara Cartland.
Her relationship with Diana attracted public attention, and she was famously nicknamed “Acid Raine” amid reports of tensions between the pair.
They later grew closer.
Felix’s family connection to the late princess added a notable detail to the wedding celebrations, which brought together members of both families.
The couple announced their engagement in September last year, shortly after Lily’s brother, Charlie Coleman, married Honour Wainwright at her family’s home in Hampshire.
Annabel welcomed Lily’s engagement at the time, writing that the news was “the most wonderful” and made her happy.
Annabel Croft Honours Her Late Husband at Family Celebration
The wedding took place more than three years after Annabel’s husband, Mel Coleman, died in May 2023, aged 60.
Mel, a former international yachtsman and investment banker, died after cancer that began in his colon spread to other organs.
Annabel later revealed that sepsis caused by a perforated tumour was the immediate cause of his death.
The couple had met in 1987 when Mel taught Annabel to sail for a television programme.
His death came only weeks before their 30th wedding anniversary.
Before his death, Mel had given Felix his blessing to marry Lily, although Annabel said she discovered this only years later.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she recalled what Felix had told her about the conversation: “He definitely has my permission to marry Lily,” Mel had reportedly told him.
The revelation gave Annabel an additional family memory to reflect on as her youngest daughter began married life.
Annabel’s Children Gather for Family Photographs
Annabel joined Lily and Felix for photographs alongside her other children, Charlie, 29, and Amber, 32, and their respective partners.
Amber, a yoga instructor, attended with her husband, financier Hector Llewellyn.
She shared a photograph of Annabel holding their 13-month-old son, Arlo, affectionately referring to her mother as “Glamorous Grannabel”.
The nickname reflects Annabel’s new role as a grandmother, which began last year.
Arlo’s middle name, Melvyn, honours his late grandfather.
Charlie and his wife, Honour, who is an heiress to the Boodles jewellery business, also attended with their four-month-old daughter, Cosima.
Her full name, Cosima Elizabeth Annabel, pays tribute to her two grandmothers.
The family photographs captured the siblings and their partners together during the celebrations, with Annabel dressed in a striking bronze-patterned gown featuring flowing sleeves and a matching floral headpiece.
Wedding Reception Takes Place at Belgravia Venue
The reception was held at Wild by Tart, a fashionable restaurant and events venue in Belgravia co-founded by Jemima Jones, the former model and wife of environmentalist Ben Goldsmith.
Guests gathered around long tables decorated with floral arrangements, candles and striped lamps.
The reception also featured embroidered napkins, personalised menus and colourful maracas.
Photographs from the party showed guests celebrating with the newlyweds, including scenes of the couple being lifted onto their friends’ shoulders as the festivities continued.
The venue provided a setting for the family gathering, combining formal wedding traditions with a lively evening celebration.
Annabel Credits Strictly Come Dancing With Helping Her Through Grief
In the months following Mel’s death, Annabel joined the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
The pair reached the semi-finals.
Annabel has spoken openly about the difficulties of losing her husband and returning to the family home without him.
She said the television competition gave her something positive to concentrate on during a particularly difficult period.
Reflecting on the experience, she described it as “an incredibly healing process” and admitted she was unsure how she would have managed that winter without the programme.
The London wedding brought Annabel’s children, their partners and her grandchildren together for a family celebration, with Lily and Felix surrounded by loved ones as they marked the beginning of their marriage.
