A newlywed from Gravesend has become the UK's youngest gran aged 21 after marrying her 56-year-old hubby - and insists the couple are the happiest they've ever been despite being mistaken for father and daughter.

Becca and Mark Keeley met five years ago at a rock and roll concert when Becca was just 16 and tied the knot in 2018, despite being cut off by family members for their controversial 35 year age gap.

Mark and Becca Keeley tied the knot in 2018, despite being cut off by family members for their controversial 35 year age gap. Picture: Mercury Press

But Becca is happily adapting to life as a step-gran to Mark's granddaughter Mollie, seven months – despite being six years younger than one of the dad-of-five's children from a previous relationship, Aaron, 27, Jake, 21, Luke, 16 and Emma, 13.

And the couple, who welcomed four-month-old daughter Presley last October, even think Becca could be the youngest nan in the UK.

Former office manager and mum-of-one Becca said: "We always laugh because I'm probably the youngest nan in the country.

"I became a step-nan before I was 21, and Presley was an aunt before she was even born.

"Mark said I surely wouldn't want to be called nan, but his family are my family.

"The age gap has never bothered me because I'm so happy and it just works so well – I know how much he cares about me and how much he loves me.

"Age is just a number, it’s really nobody else’s business. I’ve got to do what makes me happy.

"I love that he cares about me. Nobody has ever cared about me like he does and I trust him completely.”

The pair met at a dance in 2015 where singer and grandad-of-one Mark, also from Gravesend, was performing with his band, and quickly became an item despite Mark’s initial misgivings.

Becca, who had one previous boyfriend, said while friends warned her to be careful, she didn’t care as all she wanted was a house and a family.

Mark said: “It was very difficult at the beginning, when she told me she was 16.

"A lot of people thought it was wrong and had their opinions. I didn’t think the relationship was going anywhere but Becca wanted to take it further.

"I said 'we can’t' and told her to find someone her own age, but we made each other so happy and we decided to try and conquer it.

"A lot of people thought it was wrong and had their opinions..."

“She kept saying she wanted to marry me and I told her she couldn’t.

"It took a long time to get used to the fact that she wanted to be with me, but I saw in her eyes that she wanted to."

Becca added: “At first, friends warned me to be careful but I didn't care.

“When we were younger, I would sit and dream about me having a house and a family and I've got that now.”

Mark claims he has barely spoken to his parents since he and full-time mum Becca’s relationship began, and said some relatives haven’t met Presley.

But surprisingly, Becca and Mark have had the full support of her parents since she introduced them to her older boyfriend just six months into the relationship – despite the couple regularly being mistaken for father and daughter.

The couple met at a rock concert. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Becca said: “I was nervous introducing him to my family.

"I texted my dad saying 'I’ve met someone and you aren’t going to be happy because he’s older' but he just said he was fine with it as long as I’m happy.

“I had to tell them about Mark because I wanted to be with him and just thought that if they don’t accept it then it's tough because he’s the one I want to be with.

“I’ve got to get on with my life and be happy

“It’s got nothing to do with anyone else. As long as my mum and dad are alright, then no one else can have a say.

"We were in a restaurant once and Mark went outside to park the car.

"Age is just a number, it's nobody else's business..."

“The waiter came over and asked if I wanted to wait for my dad to get back. It has happened a few times."

Mark added: "A couple of times we’ve been out for a meal and I’ve gone to park the car and staff have asked if she wants to wait for her dad.

“My family aren’t happy about it.

"My mum and dad stopped speaking to me around the time we got together and people have made comments, but I have just got on with my life.”

Mark had decided not to have any more children until he met Becca, who persuaded him to have one more as she had always wanted a family.

The loved-up 56-year-old proposed two years into the relationship while the pair were on holiday in Tenerife, before they tied the knot at Maidstone registry office wedding in August 2018, in front of 300 guests.

Within four months Becca was pregnant with their first child – with Presley arriving last October.

"Friends warned me to be careful but I didn't care..."

Mark said: “Originally I didn't want more children, but I wasn't going to let Becca down.

"When baby Presley was born, the response was out of this world, the amount of people congratulating us was amazing."

Becca said the couple have no plans to have any more children and admitted she tries not to think about what the practicalities of the age gap will mean as Mark gets older.

She said: “I try not to think too much about the future.

"I know he won't be around for all of Presley's life, and that does make me teary.

“She got her name because Elvis is Mark's God and I want her to always have a piece of him.

“I've told Mark that when he's gone, I don't want another fella.

“I plan on buying some land and having all the horses and dogs in the world – I’ll be the crazy animal lady rather than meeting anyone else."

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