Ian ... I sympathise with you & Ella - and all other couples bewildered by such misleading information being given out by officious VFS employees overstepping the mark - in what is already a stressful enough situation.
There isn't really anything else I can add to the replies you've already received ... except to you to our friendly site ... and trust you will have no further hindrance(s) with Ella's application.
Goodluck!