The Truth About Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten Of Burma

The Truth About Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten Of Burma

 

BY SAMANTHA COULTER/APRIL 15, 2021 4:51 PM EDT

After the death of Prince Phillip, followers of the royal family are wondering who will attend his upcoming funeral. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom is currently on lockdown and traditional funeral proceedings have largely changed.

 

Considering the royal family is so large and the Duke of Edinburgh had many close acquaintances of his own, it can be hard to determine who will attend his service without some light research. According to a report by CNN, only 30 people will attend the funeral at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. Though most of the attendees are from Phillip's immediate family, there are a few close friends slated to pay their respects.

 

One of the lesser-known names on the list is Penelope Knatchbull, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Knatchbull was one of the Queen and Prince Phillips' closest confidants and is the wife of Norton Knatchbull — the grandson of Phillip's uncle.

 

Penelope Knatchbull was one of Prince Phillip's closest friends

Penelope Knatchbull was born in London to Marian Hood and Reginald Eastwood. She was raised in Switzerland before graduating from the London School of Economics, After marrying the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Knatchbull gave birth to three children, Nicholas, Alexandra, and Leonara.

 

Unfortunately, in 1991 their youngest daughter Leonora contracted liver cancer and died at just five years old. In 2010, it was reported that Earl Mountbatten was having an affair, however, Knatchbull remained dedicated to her royal duties and took over the running of the Broadlands estate, (via Hello Magazine).

 

Following the tragic loss of her daughter and husband, Knatchbull grew much closer with the Queen and Prince Phillip. She is often seen at royal events and accompanies Phillip at many carriage-driving shows. A friend of the royal family told Express.co.uk, "The Queen and Philip have never forgotten how Norton helped Charles get through the trials and troubles of Gordonstoun. There has always been a special feeling because of the terrible tragedies that beset his family. But they can't really forgive him for what he did to Penny."

 

Prince Philip funeral: Penelope Knatchbull - the one guest who nobody predicted

The pair were close friends for years

 

https://www.mylondon.news › news › uk-world-news › pr.

By James Bayley

• 20:14, 15 APR 2021

Philip taught the Countess how to drive carriages in 1994 (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

 

Due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions, only 30 people will be in attendance at Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday, including Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.

However, one of the 30 guests that people may not have expected to attend is the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Penelope Knatchbull, who has been a close companion to both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh over the years.

 

Known in Royal circles simply as Penny, the Countess is the only daughter of butcher-turned-businessman Reginald Eastwood but became close to the royal family through her relationship with Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl of Mountbatten.

 

 

Penelope was an immediate hit with the royals but particularly impressed the Queen and Philip when Norton first introduced her in 1975.

 

Norton's close friendship with the major royals allowed Penelope to get closer to the family.

The Earl had attended the prestigious Gordonstoun school with Prince Charles as a child, with the Prince of Wales serving as best man when the couple tied the knot in 1979.

 

The wedding took place two months after the assassination of her husband's grandfather Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, by an IRA bomb which also killed three others, Knatchbull's younger brother Hon. Nicholas Knatchbull (1964–1979), his grandmother Lady Brabourne, and Irish friend Paul Maxwell.

 

The funeral will take place on Saturday April 17, while the nation will observe a minute's silence at 3pm (Image: Kate Green/Getty Images)

 

Between 1981 and 1986, Penelope gave birth to three children, Nicholas, Alexandra and Leonora, but tragedy struck again in 1991 when Leonora contracted liver cancer and died at the age of five.

 

Despite an age difference of more than 30 years, the pair's love for the outdoors allowed their friendship to blossom, especially when Philip taught the Countess how to drive carriages in 1994.

 

While Penelope was seen in public riding alongside The Duke, her friendship with the Queen flourished behind closed doors.

 

However, the strength demonstrated following her husband's affair in 2010 particularly impressed Her Majesty and allowed their companionship to become a more public affair, according to Hello!

 

Clearly, she still holds a firm place in the Queen's heart and will be in attendance with Prince Philip's closest family and friends on Saturday to pay their last respects to the dearly departed Duke.