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Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall hold second wedding in church Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall hold second wedding in church
(35 minutes later)
Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall were formally married on Friday, a week before his 85th birthday, in a small ceremony attended by a handful of close family. Jerry Hall has described her wedding to media mogul Rupert Murdoch as “absolutely wonderful” after many of the UK’s most influential journalists, publishers and celebrities gathered for the ceremony in central London.
But the pomp and ceremony of a full white wedding was saved for a ceremony at St Bride’s church on Saturday, with guests including Bob Geldof, Michael Caine and the retired US general, David Petraeus. The couple were formally married on Friday, a week before Murdoch’s 85th birthday, in a small ceremony attended by a handful of close family members.
A spokesman for St Bride’s explained the media mogul and Texan model would have been forced to delay the marriage because of the paperwork required for ceremonies involving foreign couples. Murdoch became a US citizen in 1985 to get around rules banning foreigners owning TV licences. But the pomp and ceremony of a full white wedding was saved for a ceremony at St Bride’s church on Saturday, with guests including Bob Geldof, Michael Caine and Rebekah Brooks, recently restored to the job of News UK chief executive.
“They wanted to be married sooner than we could legally marry them,” said the church spokesperson. Up to 100 people attended the Saturday celebration. Politicians Michael Gove and Priti Patel, and businessmen including the largest shareholder in Time Warner came together in a show of financial and entertainment power.
“There would be no other problem with marrying them in the church – it was just literally time,” the spokesperson told People magazine. The 84-year-old groom, giving the thumbs-up to the waiting press, and his son Lachlan were among the first to arrive at St Bride’s Church off Fleet Street, the former cradle of British journalism – the demise of which was hastened by the media tycoon’s decision to move to Wapping.
“You have to apply for special licences if you are an American and they just didn’t have time to fulfil all the legalities required by the Church of England,” added the church spokesperson. “It was just very complicated logistically.” The bride arrived moments later wearing an icy blue dress, with sheer sleeves and a short veil. It was reported that the dress was designed by Vivienne Westwood, costing in the region of £8,000.
Georgia May Jagger arrived for rehearsals in a pinstripe suit, while her mother wore her civil wedding dress – a navy blue pencil dress and wool trench coat. She was expected to wear a Vivienne Westwood ice-blue gown on Saturday. She carried a small bouquet of white flowers, matching her husband’s boutonnière, as she walked into the ceremony with her son James. After the ceremony, she told reporters she felt “absolutely wonderful”.
About 100 people attended the Saturday celebration, including Rebekah Brooks, recently restored to the job of News UK chief executive, and her husband, Charlie Brooks; plus Robert Thomson, the former editor of the Times and now the chief executive of News Corporation, and his wife, Ping. Among the early arrivals were Hall’s friends from the world of showbusiness including Andrew Lloyd Weber, Bob Geldof, and Australian comedian Barry Humphries, better known as Dame Edna Everage, and Alan Yentob, the former BBC executive.
Michael Gove was also among the guests but David Cameron and George Osborne were conspicuous by their absence. Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, had been expected to attend but was not seen arriving at the Fleet Street church. Mick Jagger’s ex-wife, Bianca, who filed for divorce from the rocker on the grounds of his adultery with Hall, also attended along with her daughter, Jade.
Lord Jacob Rothschild, the owner of Spencer House, the aristrocratic palace built for an ancestor of Princess Diana, was also at St Bride’s as was philosopher Alain de Botton, photographer David Bailey, artist Tracey Emin and Bill Wyman, former rolling stone.
His wife, Suzanne, who was Hall’s witness at the private civil marriage on Friday also looked like she was set for the front pew, stepping out of the car with Hall.
Murdoch’s daughters, Prudence, Elisabeth, Grace and Chloe, arrived moments later followed by Hall’s daughters, Georgia May and Lizzy, all of whom were bridesmaids, wearing different shades of blue.
The newspaper business was well represented by Times editor John Witherow, Sun editor Tony Gallagher and Daily Mail editor-in-chief Paul Dacre from the UK and Robert Thomson, the former editor of the Times now chief executive of News Corporation in New York.
Business interests were also represented with Vivi Nevo, the largest shareholder in Time Warner and Charles Dunstone, founder of Carphone Warehouse in attendance. A second Tony Gallagher, owner of construction empire AC Gallagher Holdings also attended.
Penny Fowler, Rupert Murdoch’s niece – who introduced the couple to each other, and William Shawcross, Murdoch’s biographer, were also there.
While Gove was among the guests, David Cameron and George Osborne were conspicuous by their absence. Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, had been expected to attend but was not seen arriving at the Fleet Street church.
Tony Blair also did not attend. The former prime minister was once a close friend of Murdoch’s and is godfather to his daughter Grace, but the two fell out after Blair made a solo visit to see Murdoch’s previous wife, Wendi Deng, at their California ranch two years ago.Tony Blair also did not attend. The former prime minister was once a close friend of Murdoch’s and is godfather to his daughter Grace, but the two fell out after Blair made a solo visit to see Murdoch’s previous wife, Wendi Deng, at their California ranch two years ago.
Related: The Texan and the Digger: Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch's whirlwind romanceRelated: The Texan and the Digger: Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch's whirlwind romance
Also expected to be there were the playwright Tom Stoppard and the artist Tracey Emin.Also expected to be there were the playwright Tom Stoppard and the artist Tracey Emin.
The Rev Canon Alison Joyce will officiate at the church event, assisted by Father Jonathan Morris from New York, who has done some work for Murdoch’s Fox News.The Rev Canon Alison Joyce will officiate at the church event, assisted by Father Jonathan Morris from New York, who has done some work for Murdoch’s Fox News.
A spokesman for St Bride’s explained why a civil service had to be held on Friday. The media mogul and Texan model would have been forced to delay the marriage because of the paperwork required for ceremonies involving foreign couples, he said. Murdoch became a US citizen in 1985 to get around rules banning foreigners owning TV licences.
“They wanted to be married sooner than we could legally marry them,” said the church spokesperson.
“There would be no other problem with marrying them in the church – it was just literally time,” the spokesperson told People magazine.
“You have to apply for special licences if you are an American and they just didn’t have time to fulfil all the legalities required by the Church of England,” added the church spokesperson. “It was just very complicated logistically.”
It is Murdoch’s fourth marriage and technically Hall’s first, after her 1992 Bali wedding to Mick Jagger was deemed legally void after an acrimonious high court battle. Murdoch and Hall met last summer and rapidly established a strong chemistry.It is Murdoch’s fourth marriage and technically Hall’s first, after her 1992 Bali wedding to Mick Jagger was deemed legally void after an acrimonious high court battle. Murdoch and Hall met last summer and rapidly established a strong chemistry.
Murdoch showed no sign of wedding nerves. On Friday itwas business as usual as he continued to tweet about his favourite current subjects, the schisms in the Republican and Tory parties.Murdoch showed no sign of wedding nerves. On Friday itwas business as usual as he continued to tweet about his favourite current subjects, the schisms in the Republican and Tory parties.
He took a pop at the US statistician Nate Silver, who correctly called the last presidential election, saying Silver had “not such [a] good prediction record these days”. On Thursday night he took a swipe at the UK government for making “obviously false claims aimed at scaring voters” in the EU referendum debate.He took a pop at the US statistician Nate Silver, who correctly called the last presidential election, saying Silver had “not such [a] good prediction record these days”. On Thursday night he took a swipe at the UK government for making “obviously false claims aimed at scaring voters” in the EU referendum debate.
Shortly after the official wedding on Friday, Murdoch tweeted: “No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest AND happiest man in world.”Shortly after the official wedding on Friday, Murdoch tweeted: “No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest AND happiest man in world.”