06 MAR 2024
A tribute & memorial website to honour​ - Lord Louis MOUNTBATTEN, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
NORTON, 3rd EARL MOUNTBATTEN OF BURMA
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Norton and Penny showed a rare moment of stoicism in public, when they attended together the wedding of their eldest daughter - The Lady (then The Hon.) Alexandra Knatchbull (b.1982) to Mr Thomas Hooper (b.1979) in June 2016 at Romsey Abbey. However, due to an undisclosed "illness", Norton did not walk his daughter down the aisle, as would be tradition - this honour was given to Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, later King Charles III (1948(2022- ). No official announcement has been made about Norton's illness, but it is thought that he is suffering from dementia (but has never been confirmed).
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Norton & Penny's eldest daughter - Alexandra (left)
being escorted into Romsey Abbey to be married
by Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales,
later King Charles III
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ABOVE: Norton & Penny
(then Lord & Lady Brabourne)
arriving at Romsey Abbey in June 2016
for the wedding of their eldest daughter
Alexandra & Thomas Hooper
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BELOW LEFT: Queen Elizabeth II
& Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh
arriving at Romsey Abbey for the wedding of
Alexandra Knatchbull & Thomas Hooper
BELOW: Norton & Penny's eldest daughter -
Alexandra (right) with Thomas Hooper,
following their wedding in June 2016
at Romsey Abbey
By April 2017, due to his poor health, Penny allowed Norton to return to the Broadlands Estate - however not back to the house itself but to a converted stable block on the estate. On 13th June 2017, Norton inherited the titles of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Viscount Mountbatten of Burma & Baron Romsey upon the death of his mother - Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (1924-2017), who died aged 93yrs. Again Penny dutifully supported her estranged husband to the funeral. Penny, who is now styled 'Countess Mountbatten of Burma' has recently followed her late mother-in-law as President of The Compassionate Friends, a charity organisation that assists bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause - a charity close to the family.
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Norton & Penny greet
Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales,
later King Charles III
following the funeral of his mother -
Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten
of Burma at St Paul's Church,
Knightsbridge, London
in June 2017
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ABOVE: The coffin of Norton's mother -
Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten
of Burma at St Paul's Church,
Knightsbridge, London
in June 2017 carried by soldiers from
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
(PPCLI) - the regiment of which
Patricia was its Colonel-in-Chief 1974-2007
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LEFT: Norton & Penny
at the funeral of his mother - Patricia,
2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma
at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge,
London in June 2017
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As a result of Norton succeeding to the titles held by his mother in 2017 (having already succeeded to the titles held by his father in 2005), Norton became the very first holder of the Earldom to be able to use the new heraldic arms granted to his grandfather (Mountbatten) under a Royal Licence on 30th June 1966 by Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952-2022) for future holders of the Earldom who are descended from Patricia & John, 7th Lord Brabourne. The London Gazette entry is shown below.
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The heraldic blazon of the new 1966 arms -
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Shield - Quarterly, 1st: azure, three cross-crosslets fitchée between two bendlets or (Knatchbull); 2nd: argent, two pallets sable (Mountbatten); 3rd: azure, a lion rampant double queued barry of ten argent and gules crowned or a bordure compony of the second and third (Hesse, with a bordure for difference); 4th: the arms of Her Royal Highness The late Princess Alice, The Grand Duchess of Hesse & By the Rhine (1843-1878) (namely, the Royal Arms differenced with a label of three points argent, the centre point charged with a rose gules barbed vert, and each of the other points with an ermine spot sable).
Crests - 1st, On a Chapeau Gules, turned up Ermine, an Ounce statant Ermine, spotted Sable (Knatchbull); 2nd, Out of a Ducal Coronet Or, a Plume of Ostrich Feathers alternately Argent and Sable (Mountbatten); 3rd, Out of a Ducal Coronet Or, two Horns barry of ten Argent and Gules, issuing from each three Linden Leaves Vert, and from the outer side of each horn four Branches barwise having three like Leaves pendent therefrom Vert (Hesse); Supporters: On either side a Lion double queued and crowned all Or;
Mottoes - 1st, IN CRUCIFIXA GLORIA MEA (My Glory is in the Cross)(Knatchbull); 2nd, IN HONOUR BOUND (Mountbatten).
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The full heraldic achievement
(under the Royal Licence of 1966)
of The Earls Mountbatten of Burma
(descended from Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten
of Burma & John, 7th Lord Brabourne)
The shield of the Arms
(under the Royal Licence of 1966)
to the Earls descended from
Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten
of Burma & John, 7th Lord Brabourne
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Whitehall, 30th June 1966
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The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to give and grant unto Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas (Mountbatten), Earl Mountbatten of Burma, K.G., G.C.B., O.M., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., P.C., Admiral of the Fleet, Her Majesty's Royal Licence and Authority that every person being a descendant of his elder daughter and coheir presumptive Patricia Edwina Victoria wife of John Ulick (Knatchbull) Baron Brabourne upon whom the title and dignity of Earl Mountbatten of Burma may descend by virtue of His Majesty's Letters Patent of Creation bearing date the 18th day of October 1947 may bear and use in lieu of and in substitution for his own paternal Arms, Crests and Supporters, the Arms of Knatchbull quarterly with the Arms of Mountbatten, the Arms of the Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Arms of Princess Alice Maud Mary, Grand Duchess of Hesse and the Rhine together with the Crests of Knatchbull, of Mountbatten and of the Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Supporters of Viscount Mountbatten of Burma, of Romsey in the County of Southampton, the whole with due and proper differences according to the Laws of Arms, the said Arms, Crests and Supporters being first duly exemplified according to the Laws of Arms and recorded in Her Majesty's College of Arms: otherwise the said Royal Licence and Permission to be void and of none effect. And to command that the said Royal Concession and Declaration be recorded in the said College of Arms.
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Penny, Countess Mountbatten of Burma
arriving at the funeral of
Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021
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Nicholas Knatchbull
(Lord Brabourne)
(b.1981)
Nicholas was born on 15th May 1981 at King's College Hospital, London. He was born on the same day as his third cousin - Mrs Zara Tindall (née Phillips), the only daughter of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (b.1950). He was christened on 1st November 1981 at Romsey Abbey, with Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, later King Charles III (1948(2022- ) being one of his god-parents.
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Nicholas was educated at Eton, Berkshire, where he befriended and mentored Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge (b.1982) - who is a god-son of Nicholas's father, Norton, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma (b.1947). He has fought a long battle with drugs and mental health issues and there was even talk that his parents might disinherit him, to protect the Broadlands estate and family fortune. He became estranged from his parents, but they have since reconciled, Nicholas has been drug free for some years and is now living on the Broadlands estate and at the time of his marriage in 2021 he gave his occupation as "a musician and a gardener."
Nicholas became officially styled Lord Brabourne (but does not use this courtesy title) upon his father succeeding as 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma on 13th June 2017. He married privately in a civil ceremony on 20th May 2021 at Broadlands, Romsey - Miss Ambre Pouzet, also known as Saint-Clare (b. 24th July 1984 in Paris, France), a former dancer, circus performer and an underwater 'mermaid'. Nicholas is the heir to the Earldom and subsequent titles held by his father.
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On 9th April 2021 - a few months short of his centenary, Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021) died at Windsor Castle. The Duke had left instructions for a "non-fussy" military funeral, however due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, a scaled down Royal Ceremonial Funeral was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on 17th April 2021. In line with Government's Covid-19 regulations concerning mass gatherings, only 30 people were allowed at the funeral and Penny was one of the few extended members of the family who attended, representing the Mountbatten/Knatchbull side of his family.
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Penny, Countess Mountbatten of Burma
(wearing a face mask due to Covid-19 regulations)
at the funeral of Prince Philip,
1st Duke of Edinburgh in 2021
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Natascha McElhone
- who portrays Penny
in Season 5 of
"The Crown"
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In November 2021, Netflix announced that the actress Natascha McElhone (b.1969) would portray Penny in Season 5 of their award winning (and often controversial) television drama "The Crown", charting the life of Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952-2022). However, choosing McElhone was deemed insensitive and inappropriate, as her stepfather - Roy Greenslade (b.1946), an author and journalist, is a well-known supporter of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), who were responsible for the murder of Mountbatten and members of their family. Sir Jonathan Pryce (b.1947) portrays
Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021) and the fictional award winning drama suggests a personal relationship between Penny and The late Duke. Filming started in July 2021 and was broadcast in November 2022.
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On 29th March 2022, a Memorial Service was held at Westminster Abbey, London to honour and commemorate the life of Prince Philip, 1st Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021). The clergy who officiated were - The Very Rev. David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster (b.1957), Dean of Windsor, The Rt Rev David Conner (b.1947), Dean of Windsor and The Most Rev & Rt Hon. Justin Welby (b.1956), Archbishop of Canterbury. As the Covid restrictions had been lifted, it was therefore possible for those members of the UK and European Royal Families unable to attend the funeral at St George's Chapel to attend this Service. The congregation was led by The Queen - who was controversially accompanied by Prince Andrew, The Duke of York (b.1960), wore a shade of 'Edinburgh Green' as a tribute to Philip's official livery.
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ABOVE:
The Lady Alexandra Hooper arriving at Prince Philip's
Memorial Service at
Westminster Abbey
LEFT: Penny,
Countess Mountbatten
of Burma arriving at
Prince Philip's
Memorial Service
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Members of the Mountbatten/Knatchbull Family who attended Prince Philip's Memorial Service included - George, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven, accompanied by The Marchioness; Lord Ivar Mountbatten & Mr James Coyle; Penny, Countess Mountbatten of Burma; Mr & Mrs Nicholas Knatchbull (Lord & Lady Brabourne); The Lady Alexandra Hooper & Mr Thomas Hooper; The Hon. Philip Knatchbull; The Hon. Mr & Mrs Timothy Knatchbull; Mr Ashley Hicks; Mr & Mrs David Flint Wood.
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ABOVE: (left to right) The Lady Alexandra Hooper;
Sophie, The Countess of Wessex
(wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex)
and Penelope, Countess Mountbatten of Burma
sharing a joke in the Royal Box
- Day 1 of Royal Ascot, June 2022
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ABOVE: (left to right)
Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy;
Penelope, Countess Mountbatten of Burma;
Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
& Princess Beatrice, Mrs Mapelli Mozzi
in the Royal Procession - Day 2
of Royal Ascot 2022
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Penelope, Countess Mountbatten of Burma (in the robes as High Steward of Romsey) with
(left) Cllr Alan Dowden, Mayor of Test Valley & (right) Cllr Neil Gwynne, Mayor of Romsey
at the St George's Day Parade in Romsey 2023
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In June 2o22, it was announced that the wife of Norton & Penny's only son, Nicholas (Lord Brabourne) gave birth to a son - The Hon. Alexander Knatchbull, so the succession of the Earldom and subsidiary titles is secure for a further generation.
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Norton and Penny remain married, but are still officially separated and divorce seems unlikely at this time.
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