On November 6, 1989, Ronnie Kray, 56, married former kissogram girl Kate Howard, 33, in a ceremony at top-security psychiatric hospital, Broadmoor.
The wedding was Ronnie’s second behind bars. He had recently divorced Elaine Mildener, whom he married in 1985 – again whilst in Broadmoor.
Kate was allowed to spend just 90 minutes with her husband before he was returned to his cell. She told reporters outside the hospital: ″It is a shame Ronnie can’t be here but we are obviously in love and I shall be going to see him tomorrow.″
Just a handful of friends attended the wedding ceremony – with Ronnie’s twin brother, Reggie, being absent. At the time of the wedding, he was in custody at a conventional prison at Lewes. The best man was convicted killer Charlie Smith.
Ronnie, along with his twin brother Reggie, built up an underworld empire based on providing ‘protection’ and other, largely criminal, activities. They owned clubs and pubs in the East End of London, and were often seen socialising with celebrities and other prominent people. They were both sentenced to life imprisonment in 1969, after being convicted of killing two gangland rivals – Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie and George Cornell.
The marriage between Ronnie and Kate was ill-fated however, and they divorced in 1994. Kate is the author of several books, including some about the Kray twins. Ronnie passed away on March 17, 1995, at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire. He had suffered a heart attack a few days earlier whilst at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital. He was 61.
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