Transplant

15/12/2025

Sam Vanderpump has tied the knot with his fiancée Alice Yaxley in an intimate ceremony at Chelsea Registry Office on Sunday afternoon

Sam Vanderpump has quietly tied the knot with his fiancée Alice Yaxley in a deeply personal ceremony — choosing love, commitment and hope amid the most challenging chapter of his life.

The Made In Chelsea star, 28, and the model, 24, said ‘I do’ in front of their close friends and family, before celebrating with a luxury dinner

The Made In Chelsea star, 28, and model Alice, 24, exchanged vows on Sunday afternoon at Chelsea Registry Office, surrounded only by their closest friends and family, before marking the occasion with an intimate luxury dinner.

The newlyweds, who are expecting their first child together, plan to host a much larger celebration in May 2027, after welcoming their baby son in February.

The newlyweds, who are currently expecting their first child together, are planning to throw a larger wedding celebration in May 2027, after welcoming their son in February

Despite the modest scale, sources describe the ceremony as “beautiful and incredibly emotional”, coming after months marked by serious health scares, uncertainty and fear.

Alice looked radiant in a plunging ivory gown that showcased her blossoming baby bump, with a full-length veil with a train

Alice looked radiant in a plunging ivory gown, carefully chosen to accommodate her seven-month baby bump, after previously admitting she endured an “absolute nightmare” trying to find a dress that fit comfortably. She completed the look with a full-length veil featuring a dramatic train.

Sam, meanwhile, cut a striking figure in a white tuxedo with black bowtie, finishing the look with a red boutonnière as he held his new wife’s hand throughout the ceremony.

An insider told the Daily Mail:
“The wedding was small, intimate and incredibly special. They see it as the real beginning of their marriage — not the party.”

The source added:
“Sam promised Alice from the moment they met that life would never be boring with him. He’s certainly kept that promise.”

She previously admitted she’d had an ‘absolute nightmare’ trying to find a wedding dress that sat over her growing belly

Their son is due on Valentine’s Day, making the start of 2026 a moment filled with both excitement and emotion for the couple.

Sam proposed to Alice in March, just weeks after being hospitalised in January with liver and kidney failure that escalated into life-threatening sepsis.

While Sam looked on cloud nine as he clutched his new wife’s hand, cutting a dapper figure in a white tuxedo with a black bowtie and a red boutonnière

Last month, the reality star revealed on Made In Chelsea that he has been diagnosed with irreversible end-stage liver disease, with doctors initially warning his life expectancy could be limited to four to five years without a transplant.

Last month, he announced on an episode of Made In Chelsea that he’d been diagnosed with irreversible end-stage liver disease, with his life expectancy limited to four to five years without a transplant

Born with the rare conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis and polycystic kidney disease, Sam had lived symptom-free until last December, when his organs suddenly began shutting down.

He was born with the rare conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis of the liver and polycystic kidney disease, but they lay dormant until last December, when his organs began shutting down after developing sepsis

Speaking candidly on the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson, Sam recalled the terrifying moment he learned he would need a liver transplant — a revelation that came shortly after discovering Alice was pregnant.

“I got a notification on the NHS app,” he said.
“I opened the letter and it was four lines long. It said I needed to attend a liver transplant assessment. I think your heart stops.”

In the latest episode of the We Need To Talk podcast with Paul C Brunson, Sam described how he later discovered the devastating truth behind his symptoms, soon after learning Alice was pregnant

Asked what ran through his mind, Sam admitted through tears:
“Fear. Pure fear. Am I going to die?”

His thoughts immediately turned to his unborn child — and to his late father, Mark Vanderpump, who died in 2018.

“My dad will never meet his grandchild. Then you ask yourself — am I going to see my child?” he said.
“That’s terrifying.”

The star candidly revealed how he feared he would die before getting to meet his son after first being told he needed a liver transplant to save his life

Since going public with his diagnosis, Sam has used his platform to raise awareness about sepsis symptoms and the urgent need for organ donors, though he admitted the media attention took a heavy emotional toll.

“Every headline said ‘four or five years left to live’ — and that’s not true,” he explained.
“That broke me.”

Sam and Alice announced they were expecting a baby boy in September, due on Valentine’s Day next year, with the couple already having picked out his name, that has huge significance to his family

He revealed that the pressure led to a breakdown in recent weeks — until his famous aunt Lisa Vanderpump, 65, urged him to stay strong for Alice and their baby.

“She gave me the kick up the backside I needed,” Sam said.
“She reminded me why I’m doing this.”

The couple have already chosen a meaningful name for their son: Marmaduke, nicknamed Duke — a tribute to Sam’s late father.

Despite the fear and uncertainty, Sam remains hopeful.
“Liver transplants are extremely successful,” he said.
“I’m going to be here for my son. I know that.”