The Dutch far-right activist at the centre of a free speech controversy with Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been revealed to be married to an Italian aristocrat. Eva Vlaardingerbroek, 29, was denied an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Britain yesterday, barring her from entering the UK without a visa.
A Lavish Union and Noble Lineage
Vlaardingerbroek is married to Francesco Gargallo di Castel Lentini, a Rome-based lawyer descended from a long line of Italian nobility. The couple wed in a lavish Catholic ceremony in Rome in July 2024 and welcomed their son, Filippo, in December of that year.
The Gargallo family has a storied history in Italy, originally based in Sicily. They were thrust into the public eye in 2018 when thieves stole millions of dollars worth of valuables from the Roman villa of Francesco's father, Filippo, a successful lawyer and former army officer.
Francesco followed his father into law, graduating from the University of Rome in 2018. He now practices internationally and recently defended a woman who refused a PCR Covid test upon entering Norway in 2021. He maintains a low profile on social media, largely resharing his wife's content.
Political Rise and Past Relationships
Vlaardingerbroek's marriage marks a shift, as her previous romantic links were predominantly with fellow hard-right activists. In her early 20s, she had a brief 'fling' with far-right Dutch politician Thierry Baudet, founder of the Forum for Democracy. She was later linked to a French far-right author before becoming engaged to American conservative commentator Will Witt in March 2022; that engagement ended later the same year.
The activist rose to prominence in 2020, pausing her degree to focus on politics. Across her social media, which boasts over one million followers on X, she promotes debunked conspiracy theories like the Great Replacement, claims EU censorship, and has expressed a desire to be "the new Nigel Farage" and achieve "Nexit." Her extreme views have led to labels like "Aryan Princess" in the media.
UK Ban and Political Fallout
The Home Office's decision to deny her ETA means she cannot visit the UK without a visa and has no right to appeal, stating her potential presence was 'not considered to be conducive to the public good'. Vlaardingerbroek, who later called the PM a "tyrant," had hoped to return to the UK in May for another 'Unite The Kingdom' rally organised by EDL founder Tommy Robinson.
She spoke at the previous rally in London last September, an event which saw 26 police officers injured and 24 arrests. In her speech, she invoked the death of right-wing American activist Charlie Kirk, telling the crowd they were fighting "a fight of truth versus lies, of freedom versus tyranny."
Born in Amsterdam in 1996 to parents working in classical music, Vlaardingerbroek was raised in a religious household and remains close to her family. Her UK travel ban has ignited a fresh row over free speech and the boundaries of political activism in Britain.
