With Philip and Penny, who was previously known as Lady Romsey then Lady Brabourne, it was a meeting of the minds. According to People, the families were so close that Prince Charles was Nortons best man when he married Penny, and Norton and Pennys home called Broadlands was where Philip and Princess Elizabeth honeymooned in 1947. Sure enough, the queen reluctantly meets with her husband's companion one-on-one and even invites her to ride with her to church service. However, despite their estrangement, Penelope and Norton remained legally married. Reginald, a one-time butcher, according toThe Telegraph, was the founder of the restaurant chain Aberdeen Steak House in the 1960s, later known as Angus Steak House. She remained close with the royal family, and was one of only a few mourners at Prince Philips 2021 funeral, which had limited attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prince Philip's relationship with aristocrat Penny Knatchbull, which reportedly raised some eyebrows in the 1990s, will get the Netflix treatment. Theyre also distantly related by blood: Norton is the grandson of of Philips uncle, Louis Mountbatten. Bedell Smith notes that Knatchbull was not the first woman with whom Philip had a close female friendship that raised eyebrows. A mitigating factor in any hard feelings Penelope might have held toward her husband may be the state of his health. Questions hovered over their friendship in the press, with some speculating more was going on. Although she mostly grew up in Sweden, Penny was incredibly close to the royals thanks to her marriage to Norton Louis Philip Knatchbull. Penny and Philip met in 1974 and hit it off immediately despite their 32-year age difference, becoming closer when Penny's daughter. Philip and Kirkwood reportedly met on on seven occasions, and while she has always denied they had an intimate relationship, as rumors of "the prince and the showgirl" ran rampant, she had to. The mere implication that the duo had an affair did not sit well with royal insiders. Per Yahoo! The day after Philip was laid to rest at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, Irish republican party Sinn Fein the political wing of the IRA apologised for Mountbattens assassination. Earl Mountbatten is a relative of Prince Philips uncle, the first Earl Mountbatten, to whom Philip was exceptionally close. The Daily Mail claims that Nicholas was at one time addicted to crack and heroin. But the highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by Her Majesty or the rest of the royal family.. For Philip, it meant he gained an attractive companion to events such as the Royal Windsor Horse Show and at numerous social gatherings associated with the sport and beyond. Philip, of course, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. She was known as Lady Romsey between 1979 and 2005; The Lady Brabourne between 2005 and 2017; and now Countess Mountbatten of Burma. When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? She has also been known as Lady Romsey and Lady Brabourne, as well as the High Steward of Romsey. Prince Philip and Penny riding motorbikes in 2006. Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten affectionately known by the royals as Uncle Dickie was assassinated by the IRA. It was only when he feared he would be cut off from the familys 100million fortune that he checked into rehab and kicked his habits. They also opened the Mountbatten Exhibition on the estate (per AP). In the years that followed, Knatchbull and Romsey remained close friends with Charleseven offering to speak out in his defense after Andrew Morton published his infamous Princess Diana tell-all, according to Bedell Smith. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. In the show, Penny and Philip are seen touching hands as he divulges details of his marriage. Seward agreed, adding that Philip was not the type of man to discuss private details of his marriage with anyone. Knatchbull split her youth between Great Britain and Switzerland. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. An insider explained, "This is a relationship which naturally raised a few eyebrows and sparked quite a few whispers, but Philip and Penny maintained they were just friends. He encouraged Penny to take up his sport of carriage driving, to distract her, and got his head groom Micky Flynn to show her the ropes. She also appeared at. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now. Her marriage troubles came on top of worry about their son, Nicholas, who was a year above Prince William at Eton, and had spent years hooked on crack cocaine and heroin. The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. Knatchbull lost her 5-year-old daughter Leonora to kidney cancer in 1991; The New York Post reports that The Crown argues this tragedy brought her closer to Philip. Pennys marriage broke down in 2010, after 31 years and three children. Coming just weeks after the nation laid Her Majesty to rest next to Prince Philip, this is very distasteful and, quite frankly, cruel rubbish, Dickie Arbiter, the queen's former press secretary, told The Sun. Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family.. She explicitly said, I did not go to bed with him. They shared this passion for Carl Jung that also Prince Charles had.. Seward noted the monarch's affection in her book "Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century," connecting her along with Philip to Knatchbull's presence at royal functions and her nickname "And Also". Its absolutely cuckoo.. His drug issues made his family question his future, but the Mail's story also claimed that he had kicked his habits and worked to repair his relationship with his father. Three weeks after the accident, which Philip blamed on him being blinded by the low winter sun, it was announced he had stopped driving. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Her wedding was held only months after the assassination and was attended by the queen and Philip, then-Prince Charles, and other assorted royals. By accepting, she was automatically in the post, but a formal induction ceremony was held in 2011. She looked heartbroken when she arrived at the funeral and she is heartbroken. Alexandra, a financial analyst known as Knatch, chose to marry Thomas Hooper, an entrepreneur, on what would have been her sister Leonoras 30th birthday. Although Her Majestyand probably many of us viewersfirst suspects him of having a romantic affair, Pryce's Philip assures her that his and Lady Penny's relationship is simply an intellectual and spiritual companionship, nothing more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. Nicholas is in line to inherit the wealth of the Mountbatten family and his father's titles, but he was reportedly once in danger of being disinherited. He began inviting her on carriage rides and later taught her carriage driving. Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. All rights reserved. Penelope was invited to take over as High Steward by the town council. Unlike her husband, Penny was the daughter of a. The bomb blast on board his fishing boat off County Sligo, Ireland, which featured in the last series of The Crown, also killed Nortons 14-year-old brother Nicholas and his grandmother, Lady Brabourne. The truth is that Penny was a long-time friend of the whole family. She is . .css-5rg4gn{display:block;font-family:NeueHaasUnica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-5rg4gn:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin:0.75rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:0.02rem;margin:0.9375rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;margin:0.9375rem 0 0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;}}'Outer Banks' Season 3 Arrives in February, Riley Keough Explains Sex Scene With Her Husband. Ingrid says: They were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. In that time, her father's chain was sold, and it's traded owners over the decades. She was pictured attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show with him several times over the years and it was in the 1990s that Penny and Prince Philip's bond is understood to have become incredibly close. Following Philip's 2021 death, Knatchbull was one of 30 guests invited to the. However, The Crown gets the timeline of Philip and Knatchbulls friendship right, according to Sewards book. On top of helping her found a society in memory of her daughter, Philip often invited Penny to Windsor Castle and Sandringham Estate. IE 11 is not supported. Speculation generated by The Crown that Knatchbull had an affair with the Duke of Edinburgh is just that; there is no proof of a romantic or sexual entanglement. Penny later became Lady Romsey after she married Prince Philip's . Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Lady Penelope (Penny) Romsey arrive at the Guards Polo Club on June 1, 1975 in Windsor, England. Morgan imagined what it was like to be the young queen in the 1950s, when she was routinely confronted with reports of her husbands alleged infidelity. Here's The Scoop On Her And Their Relationship, Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century. Season 5 of The Crown starts streaming on November 9, 2022, according to Netflix. Penny, left to manage her and Nortons 5,000-acre Hampshire estate alone, reportedly gathered together all the staff while her estranged husband was mid-flight and told them he had gone but everything else would stay the same. Asked whether these female friendships ever bothered the queen, Bedell Smith points to a conversation she had with Pamela Hicks, who was a bridesmaid and lady-in-waiting to the late monarch. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jeannie, as she is known, is the sister of former Bahamas Attorney General Sean McWeeney. Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten affectionately known by the royals as Uncle Dickie was assassinated by the IRA. So why is her appearance in The Crown so controversial? Either way, the Queen and Penny remained close even after Philips death. Their companionship continued for years, with Lady Penny seen with Prince Philip and the Queen at Sandringham, horse shows, and other royal events. Indeed, she has been so much a part of royal life, household staff nicknamed her And Also, because whenever Philip listed guests who were to be invited to a royal do, he would end with and also Penny. Knatchbull married Philips godson, Norton Knatchbull, Lord Romsey, on Oct. 20, 1979. She was godmother to Alexandra Knatchbull, not Leonora, as the show depicts. In reality, Knatchbull entered the royal fray in 1979 when she married Prince Charless second cousin Lord Romsey, son and heir of the 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma. There was never any question she would leave Broadlands, where every day she visits the tall stone monument, about 100 yards from the house, which stands above her daughter Leonoras grave. The revelations that have leaked from Prince Harrys memoir, Palace Insiders Say Prince William Is Already Furious About Prince Harrys Memoir Leaks, Prince Harry alleges Prince William attacked him over Meghan Markle in a new excerpt from. After theyd spent a weekend with her, [Penny] said that [Diana] appeared to be auditioning for a role in a costume drama. The makers of The. For other inquiries Contact Us. Penny photographed at Windsor Castle attending the funeral of Prince Philip on April 17, 2021. One source said: He was a tremendous support during a time of unimaginable grief.. They were friends, she was married, she lived nearby. Three years later, she married Norton Knatchbull, Lord Romsey at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire, andPrince Charles served as best man at their wedding. Her husband is Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma . That bit of matchmaking didn't work out, but Mountbatten was also supportive of Penelope's entering the family, according to Newsweek. Despite his great age, she still acts as a confidante and they share a boisterous sense of humor. One source said: He was a tremendous support during a time of unimaginable grief.. She looked heartbroken when she arrived. In happier times, she could be seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the royal family, waving at the crowds and taking in the trooping of the color (per the Irish Times). Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, GMB's Kate Garraway reveals crippling cost of caring for her husband Derek, Stephen Bear 'broke behind bars' as his company is shut down before he's jailed, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. By coincidence, Leonora shared the same birthday as Uncle Dickie. Indeed, she has been so much a part of royal life, household staff nicknamed her And Also, because whenever Philip listed guests who were to be invited to a royal do, he would end with and also Penny. She was one of the only people apart from family members who he saw at Wood Farm, the five-bedroom home on the Sandringham estate where he spent most of his time after he retired from royal duties in 2017. Sometimes tragedy builds unlikely bonds between people. Im talking about the Countess of Westmorland, the Duchess of Abercorn, clarifies Bedell Smith. / norton knatchbull illness. Following Philips 2021 death, Knatchbull was one of 30 guests invited to the royals funeral. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. One source said at the time: Not for a moment would Penny allow her husbands departure to interrupt the smooth running of the estate.. She never betrayed him. But there's no evidence of it. It traded hands among the nobility for centuries until Mountbatten acquired it by marriage. The Daily Mail published photos of Norton and Nuttall strolling through Nassau after the split. Alexandra, a financial analyst known as Knatch, chose to marry Thomas Hooper, an entrepreneur, on what would have been her sister Leonoras 30th birthday. Penny Knatchbull & Prince Philip Relationship: What Is the Real Story? Beyond the sport, The Crown also shows Philip's deep bond with Knatchbull. He trusted her implicitly and she adored him. Penelope Knatchbull's titles have changed over the years. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. Here's the scoop on her life and friendship with the late Prince Philip. The Queen and Philip admired Penny for her indomitable spirit, dignity, and grace and made sure she was included in their lives as much as possibleso much so that Penny acquired the nickname and also as she was frequently a guest at Windsor Castle for the weekends. Promise. Knatchbull married Philip's godson, Norton Knatchbull, Lord Romsey, on Oct. 20, 1979. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma 32 years younger than the late Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April 2021 aged 99 has been a trusted member of the Royal Familys inner circle for years and bonded with Philip through their love of carriage driving. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. Penelope and Norton Knatchbull have had three children together (per Tatler): Nicholas, Alexandra, and Leonora. During the 1990s . Charles, Philip's oldest son who is now the British sovereign, was Norton Knatchbull's best man in their wedding. Whatever moved Norton to flee Britain and pursue his affair, he seemed to have a change of heart. Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip's beautiful friendship The friendship with Prince Philip was more public, while her relationship with the Queen was more private, Hello Magazine reported. Initially, "home" meant a stable block on the estate, but after a few years, it was said that he was allowed back in Broadlands proper. Their friendship began after Leonoras death: Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart and encouraged her to take up carriage driving, Seward wrote. She was seen the next year at the Royal Windsor Host Show, which she had so often attended with him, as a guest of the queen. And if your response to that sentence is literally whomst, you are not alone! Her father, Reginald Eastwood, founded the Angus Steakhouse chain, as Nicholas Davies writes in his 2000 Queen Elizabeth biography, "Beyond Palace Doors.". Charles served as best man at the wedding and, in the years following, Knatchbull actually befriended Charles before getting to know his father. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. But it was after Pennys five-year-old daughter Leonora died of kidney cancer in 1991 that Philip really began to take her under his wing. Its a new decade, and the royal family are facing what may be their biggest challenge yet: proving their continued relevance in 90s Britain. The event being dubbed the Wedding of the Year with over 900 guests in attendance from almost all of Europes leading families. Her marriage troubles came on top of worry about their son, Nicholas, who was a year above Prince William at Eton, and had spent years hooked on crack cocaine and heroin. When he got into a car accident in 2019, Queen Elizabeth II decided that her husband needed to give up driving. According to Seward, Knatchbull was part of the difficult conversation following Philips car accident about giving up driving. They share a love of carriage driving in the show, and Philip confides that he and the Queen have grown in separate directions, a portrayal hotly disputed by people close to the former Monarch, The Post reported. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. The relationship between Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip is causing controversy due to the new season of The Crown., Their friendship will be featured in the fifth season of The Crown on Netflix. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. According to Prince Philip's biographer, the royal befriended the countess when "her life began to fall apart.". GettyLONDON, ENGLAND JUNE 8: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, smiles after unveiling a plaque at the end of his visit to Richmond Adult Community College in Richmond on June 8, 2015 in London, England. Philip and Penny, who is 32 years younger than the late Duke of Edinburgh, are said to have first met in 1975 when she became engaged to Norton Knatchbull. READ NEXT: What happened to Jeffrey Dahmers brother David? The royal family attended, and Prince Charles, the groom's second cousin, even served as best man. Even when they had these moments where Penny actually said, You should not marry Diana. As for Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce), he develops a close friendship with family friend Penny Knatchbull while experiencing his own marital troubles with the queen. Her husband Norton, now the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, fled to the Caribbean to be with fashion designer Eugenie Nuttall. Information about the 4th season of The Crown has leaked out and, according to The Sun, the Netflix series will show Knatchbull and Philip in intimate scenes., This has caused controversy. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. It was even rumoured Prince Charles had cut off his friendship with Penny after someone close to him shared their suspicion that his father was having an affair with her. Getty28th March 1980: Lord and Lady Romsey in the grounds of Broadland, showing the house in the background. Read more about Lord Mountbattens death at the hands of the IRA here. Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull go way back, having first met each other at a polo match in Great Windsor Park in 1974. If she had been hurt by rumours of supposed dalliances, she would never let on., Philip himself would simply laugh off any suggestion of impropriety. When Philip was involved in a car accident near the Queens Norfolk retreat of Sandringham in January 2019, Her Majesty dispatched Penny to encourage the duke to surrender his drivers licence. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. THEIR friendship spanned decades and often raised eyebrows. In another royal connection, her husband is . The Queens former press secretary Dickie Arbiter told the Sun: This is cruel rubbish.. Norton had been a year above Prince Charles at Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun and the Queen and Philip never forgot his kindness in looking after their eldest child during his challenging time there. Dominic West, his successor, will. But even before the Big Day, everyone was already spiraling about several plot pointsincluding scenes involving Penny Knatchbull. For their part, Knatchbull and the royals gave no public credence to the rumors. It also features Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton) grappling with the monarchy's declining relevance in the 1990s and Princess Margaret (Lesley Manville) revisiting a long-lost love. Powered by. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. And Wales Online noted that she has often been seen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as a guest of the family. ), Penny is the only daughter of Marian Hood and Reginald Eastwoodwho founded Angus Steakhouse. So little wonder the makers of TVs The Crown have delved into the extraordinary relationship between Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull in the new series of the Netflix drama. He trusted her implicitly and she adored him. She also appeared at Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in 2022, when the monarch died at age 96. The Sun repeated rumors that the two old friends were estranged after a confidante of Charles put it in his ear that Penelope and Philip were having an affair. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Penelope has been so much a part of royal life, household staff have nicknamed her And Also, Penelope has been a trusted member of the Royal Familys inner circle for years and bonded with Philip through their love of carriage-driving, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Phillip and Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull in The Crown, Penny was the only non-family at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary, Penny and Prince Charles pictured in 1983, The pair mount their motorbikes during the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park, Windsor Castle on May 13, 2005, Philip and Penny at Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2009, Inside Prince Philips highly personal relationship with Penny Knatchbull the only non-Royal invited to his funeral. The bomb blast on board his fishing boat off County Sligo, Ireland, which featured in the last series of The Crown, also killed Nortons 14-year-old brother Nicholas and his grandmother, Lady Brabourne. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. In 2010, according to Tatler, Norton Knatchbull left his wife and his family home of Broadlands to live with his mistress, Lady Nuttall, in the Bahamas. Penelope Knatchbull (ne Eastwood) is the wife of Norton Knatchbull, the grandson of Earl Mountbatten ( The Crown watchers know him as Uncle Dickie) and Prince Philip's own godson. Penelope Knatchbull, known as Penny, is the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, and she met the royal family at a polo match in 1975 when she was 20 years old. Penny isnt exactly a super-public figure, but shes been a close friend of the royal family for years. The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. The closeness between Philip and Penny clearly did not upset the Queen, at least not publicly. Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip. Penelope Knatchbull nicknamed Penny is one of the closest friends of the royal family. She studied in Switzerland and the London School of Economics, according to The Sun. He encouraged Penny to take up his sport of carriage driving, to distract her, and got his head groom Micky Flynn to show her the ropes. Leonora Romsey with Princess Diana on the balcony At Buckingham Palace For Trooping The Color on June 15, 1991. Penny and the Duke of Edinburgh shared decades of affection, a source told Grazia. According to The Sun, Knatchbull, otherwise known as Countess Mountbatten is married to Norton Knatchbull, the Earl Mountbatten. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Tatler reported that he came home in 2014. Netflix has confirmed that this show is indeed a fictional dramatization, shortly after a public slam from the dame. The two bonded over their hobby of carriage riding, a form of competitive horse riding that the prince took up after retiring from polo in 1971, per Ingrid Seward's 2020 book "Prince Philip Revealed.". The fifth-season story lineabout Philips relationship with his carriage-driving companion, who was more than 30 years youngercaused controversy even before episodes aired. The Crown dramatizes the optics of Philips public friendship with a woman many years his junior. Norton had been a year above Prince Charles at Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun and the Queen and Philip never forgot his kindness in looking after their eldest child during his challenging time there. Have you ever stopped to think that for years, I have never moved anywhere without a policeman accompanying me? The Duke of Edinburgh was reportedly smitten by the aristocratic Penny, who, at just 20, was over three decades his junior. There was never any question she would leave Broadlands, where every day she visits the tall stone monument, about 100 yards from the house, which stands above her daughter Leonoras grave. Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. Penelope Meredith Mary Knatchbull - Countess Mountbatten of Burma - is a friend of the British Royal Family who had a particularly close relationship with Prince Philip. Meanwhile, Norton was also Prince Philips godson. In May last year, tattooed Nicholas, 40, a music producer and gardener, married Ambre Pouzet, a French former fire-eating mermaid performer. The wedding took place two months after the IRA assassinated Philip's grandfather, Lord Mountbatten, and younger brother, Nicholas. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Although Prince Philip was 32 years Knatchbull's senior, she soon became known as Prince Philip's "keeper of secrets" in British tabloids. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Months later, in September, she attended the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey. ago. Humiliated Putin to miss G20 summit over fears of ASSASSINATION attempt after troops evacuate Kherson, I've been stuck in my living room for 12 months as the council won't find me a new home, I'm at my wit's end, Cyclist, 20s, in critical condition after horror collision with lorry in Dublin as gardai appeal for witnesses.