Francesca Packer-Barham, the granddaughter of Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer, is due to attend a high-profile wedding celebration on the Spanish island of Mallorca over the weekend of 1 August, following a private legal ceremony in May.
Weekend of celebration at the Four Seasons
The family-focused events are reported to centre on the Four Seasons, Mallorca, where the couple will mark their union with a larger gathering after registering their marriage earlier in the year. Sources indicate the party could involve as many as 120 guests and span several days, with some reports suggesting festivities from 29 July to 1 August.
Those expected to attend include Francesca’s mother, Gretel Packer, and her brothers Ben and William. Also set to be present are Francesca’s uncle, James Packer, and his fiancée, Kylie Lim. Media outlets have noted sightings of family members around the island and reported that several of the Packer family’s superyachts are en route to Mallorca.
Couple’s background and profile
The bride, who keeps a deliberately private public profile despite her family’s wealth, is understood to have been in a relationship with Robert Bates since around 2022. The couple are said to have already had a small, private ceremony in May at the Packer family’s Hunter Valley estate, and this weekend’s events are intended as the main, more public celebration.
Robert Bates is described as an entrepreneur who founded companies including Aquamamma and Aurum+, both of which have since ceased trading. Reports note an age difference between the pair of approximately 15 years, with Bates in his mid-40s and Francesca in her early 30s. The couple have not publicly documented their relationship on social media: Francesca’s public Instagram account appears inactive, with a last post dating from March 2022.
- Venue: Four Seasons, Mallorca
- Reported guest list: around 120 people
- Timeline: private legal ceremony in May; weekend celebration 29 July–1 August reports
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Family members reported attending | Gretel, Ben, William Packer; James Packer and Kylie Lim |
| Notable facts about groom | Founder of Aquamamma and Aurum+; businesses now defunct |
| Public social media | Francesca’s Instagram inactive since March 2022 |
The weekend plans follow reports that Francesca and Robert were legally married in a small family-only ceremony earlier in the year. The forthcoming Mallorca events appear designed to provide the wider family and friends an opportunity to celebrate together.
While details around the itinerary and guest list have been kept deliberately discreet, the choice of a luxury hotel on Mallorca and the presence of multiple family superyachts underscore the scale and private nature of the gathering. For a family long accustomed to media attention, the party is likely to attract international interest despite the couple’s efforts to maintain privacy.
As coverage of the events continues, further confirmations and photographs from the celebrations may emerge through international outlets and social channels, though the couple themselves have not issued public statements about the plans.
