Lady Davina Windsor facts for kids

Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Windsor was born on 19 November 1977. She is a member of the British royal family. Lady Davina is the older daughter of the Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of Gloucester. She is currently 36th in the line of succession to the British throne. From 2004 to 2018, during her marriage to Gary Lewis, she was known as Lady Davina Lewis.

Early Life and Education

Lady Davina was born in St Mary's Hospital, London. She was baptised on 19 February 1978. This took place at Barnwell Parish Church, near her family home, Barnwell Manor. She grew up in Kensington Palace in London.

Schooling and University

Lady Davina went to Kensington Preparatory School. After that, she attended St George's School, Ascot. She later studied at the University of the West of England. There, she earned a degree in media studies.

Marriage and Family Life

On 31 July 2004, Lady Davina married Gary Christie Lewis. Gary Lewis was born in 1970 and is of Māori descent. He works as a carpenter and runs a business that renovates properties. He also enjoys surfing.

How They Met

Lady Davina and Gary Lewis met while on holiday in Bali. They had known each other for four years before getting married. For some time, they kept their relationship private. Gary's father, Larry Lewis, was a builder. His uncle is Witi Ihimaera, a well-known Māori author. Witi Ihimaera wrote The Whale Rider, which was later made into a film.

Royal Consent for Marriage

Gary Lewis was the first person of known Māori descent to marry into the British royal family. Because Lady Davina is a descendant of King George V, her marriage needed special permission. This was required by the Royal Marriages Act 1772. This law made sure that her marriage was legal. It also ensured that any children they had could be in line for the throne.

On 20 July 2004, Queen Elizabeth II formally agreed to the marriage. The wedding took place at the private chapel in Kensington Palace. This was Lady Davina's childhood home. Only close friends and family attended the wedding. Other members of the royal family were not present. Lady Davina and Gary Lewis divorced in 2018.

Children of Lady Davina

Lady Davina and her former husband have two children. Their daughter, Senna Kowhai, was born on 22 June 2010. Their son, Tāne Mahuta, was born on 25 May 2012. Tāne Mahuta was named after a giant kauri tree in New Zealand. Lady Davina was also a stepmother to Gary's son, Ari, from a previous relationship.

Changes in Succession Law

For a long time, sons had priority over daughters in the line of succession. This was based on tradition. However, the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 changed this. This law came into effect in 2015. It meant that daughters now have the same rights as sons.

Because of this new law, Senna's place in the line of succession changed. She moved ahead of her younger brother, Tāne. Senna is now 28th in line to the throne, and Tāne is 29th.

Public Appearances

Lady Davina does not have official royal duties. However, she does attend family events. For example, she attended royal weddings. In 2005, she and Gary Lewis were invited to a reception. This reception was hosted by the Queen for the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. It took place at Buckingham Palace. They also attended Prince William's wedding in 2011.

See also

In Spanish: Davina Lewis para niños