On 20 July 1983 at Durham, England, Leslie Robin Medforth-Mills and Princess Helen of Romania were civilly married.
Sources:
Queen Victoria's Descendants (1997)
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 via Ancestry.com
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Dr. Robin Medforth-Mills and Princess Helen of Romania were religiously married on Saturday, 24 September 1983 at the Greek Orthodox Church in Lausanne, Switzerland. The bridal attendants were Princess Maria of Romania, Princess Alexia of Greece, Princess Mafalda of Aosta, and Mlle. Fabiola Fruchard. King Constantine II of Greece and Marquis Staffan Pasino Domingo de Mistura were the best men. The crown-bearers were the Duke of Aosta, Prince Ludwig of Baden, Prince Philippe of Bourbon-Parma, Mr. Donald Mills, Mr. Derek Hudspeth, Dr. John Bridge, and Col. Edward Aubrey-Fletcher. Other guests of note were Queen Sofía of Spain, Queen Mother Ingrid of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, and Queen Marie-José of Italy.
Bishop Damaskinos officiated over the ceremony and was assisted by the Rev. Alexander Yossifidis and the Rev. Georghe Ursache.
The wedding was attended by Mr. Stuart Frith, the former headmaster at South Holderness School in Hull (England), which Robin Medforth-Mills had attended. Mr. Frith was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth. Mr. Frith said, "Everything was so natural and absolutely informal. The service was in a Greek Orthodox Church, which could only take 100 people. Rumanian emigres lined the street cheering and clapping, as the bride and her father entered the church. Crowns were held over the heads of the bride and groom during the service." Mr. Frith, who had by then retired, emphasized that everyone was courteous and kind: "We just did not know who we were talking to until we asked, and then found it was a prince or princess. The King was very approachable, as were most of the guests."
Robin Medforth-Mills was the first boy at South Holderness to go to university. He attended Durham University, where he studied geography. After graduating, Robin spent two years in Nigeria doing voluntary work. While in Africa, he met and became friends with the late Prince William of Gloucester, who was in Lagos. Eventually, Robin returned to Durham University and obtained his doctorate. He was invited to visit Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who went on to introduce him to several members of the British royal family. It was through the Duchess of Gloucester that he eventually met his future wife, Princess Helen.
After his doctoral work, Robin went to the Sudan to work for the United Nations. At the time of his wedding, Dr. Medforth-Mills was involved in the furtherance of higher education amongst the Sudanese.
Robin's mother, Mrs. Nora Medforth-Mills, was able to attend her son's religious marriage; his father was absent due to illness.
A reception was held at the Villa Serena, the home of King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania. Robin and Princess Helen were to honeymoon in Europe and Africa.
Sources:
Queen Victoria's Descendants (1997)
"Married - The Professor and the Princess," Hull Daily Mail, 30 September 1983, p. 5
"Weddings: Professor R. Medforth-Mills and Princess Helen of Rumania," The Daily Telegraph, 26 September 1983, p. 14
