Northern Ireland

David Trimble's daughter: Dad supportive since meeting my wife wrapped in a duvet

Vicky Trimble and her wife Rosalind Stephens.
Vicky Trimble and her wife Rosalind Stephens. Vicky Trimble and her wife Rosalind Stephens.

FORMER First Minister David Trimble has spoken about how he changed his mind on same sex marriage after his daughter found love.

The 74-year-old Conservative peer revealed last week in the House of Lords that his elder daughter had married a woman.

While leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Lord Trimble voted in parliament in 2004 against the Civil Partnership Bill.

Vicky Trimble, married photographer Rosalind Stephens in November 2017, with her father walking her up the aisle and giving a touching speech at the wedding to the devoted couple which took place at Achnagairn Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Mr Trimble, one of the architects of the Good Friday agreement, spoke last week about his very personal experience during a debate on abortion law and the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

"Those are delicate matters. I have found myself taking a particular position with regard to same-sex marriage, which was forced upon me when my elder daughter got married to her girlfriend", he said.

"I cannot change that, and I cannot now go around saying that I am opposed to it because I acquiesced to it. There we are", he said.

His daughter who lives in east London responded on Facebook posting: "I’m a little surprised at Dad's wording as he has been supportive of our relationship ever since he encountered Rosalind Stephens coming out of the bathroom wrapped in a duvet!"

Her wife responded by saying: "That was a moment I will never forget".