The first same-sex marriage has taken place in the British Antarctic Territory (BAT).

Eric Bourne and Stephen Carpenter, stewards on RRS Sir David Attenborough, tied the knot on Sunday against a backdrop of mountain peaks and icebergs.

The ceremony took place on the ship’s helideck, officiated by the captain, and the marriage will be valid in the UK.

There were speeches by the couple’s best men – their fellow crew members, followed by live music and songs by the ship’s doctor.

Stephen and Eric have spent the last two decades travelling the world together on various ships.

Eric has worked for British Antarctic Survey (BAS) for three years and they decided to get married in Antarctica after Stephen joined the crew last year.

“Antarctica is such an incredible place,” said Stephen.

Ukraine war: Russia hits rail and fuel facilities in attacks deep in Ukraine – after US secretary of state meets Zelenskyy

French election: Emmanuel Macron admits voters picked him to block far-right challenge Marine Le Pen

French election latest: World leaders congratulate Emmanuel Macron after he cruises to victory against Marine Le Pen

“We have been together for 20 years but now we’ve both been to Antarctica together, it felt like the perfect place for us to finally tie the knot! We’ve even had the coordinates of the wedding location engraved into our rings.”

“We’re both very proud to be the first same-sex marriage to happen in British Antarctic Territory,” added Eric.

“BAS is such a welcoming and accepting employer, and we feel very lucky to be able to live and work in such an incredible community and place together.”

A wedding reception with all the staff from the Rothera Research Station will take place on 8 May and the couple are planning a celebration for family and friends in Spain later this year.

It is the second wedding between BAS staff since a law change in 2016 made it easier to hold marriages in the territory.

BAS operates three scientific stations in Antarctica.

The UK is one of seven countries to have made territorial claims on the continent but people from all over the world conduct research there.

Related posts:

The troubling case of Girl G reveals a lot about how we treat vulnerable children in the UK today NatWest posts pre-tax loss of £351m and announces exit from Ireland England’s pubs, restaurants and shops prepare for Monday reopening – but PM postpones his pint Prince Philip ‘took the hand he was dealt and followed its call’, Archbishop of Canterbury says Police urge ravers to come forward in hunt for missing teenager Police and protesters face off as Home Office tries to remove people from property on Eid ‘It is damaging for a young person’: Parents call for weighing children at school to be scrapped More storms to come for parts of UK after downpours, lightning and hail ‘the size of peas’ Insulate Britain protesters block roads in Dartford and west London Measles vaccination rates drop to their lowest level in a decade Children sexually exploited in all parts of England as abusers find ‘new ways’ to groom them Police sergeant jailed for 10 years for raping drunk woman who went on to have his baby