Have you ever stopped to think that for years, I have never moved anywhere without a policeman accompanying me? 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. Noting that the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was then approaching, she said that she would attend, not only as a guest but as a representative of Romsey. Philip taught Penny, who was in a relationship with Lord Romsey, Earl Mountbatten's grandson Norton Knatchbull at the time, carriage driving in 1994 and she went on to become his driving partner. Elena Nicolaou is a senior entertainment editor at Today.com, where she covers the latest in TV, pop culture, movies and all things streaming. 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. Penny continued to visit Philip until he died on April 9. Born Penelope Meredith Mary Eastwood on April 16, 1953, she is the only daughter of a wealthy business owner and grew up in Switzerland before going on to graduate from the London School of Economics in 1976. But Penelope has also taken over some ceremonial duties related to her husband's titles. "We'll never know how the Queen felt about it all," Philip's biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun. A source told The Sun in 2021 that 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. According to People, that meeting came in 1974, and she made a good impression from the start. Penelope and Norton Knatchbull have had three children together (per Tatler): Nicholas, Alexandra, and Leonora. The wedding took place two months after the IRA assassinated Philip's grandfather, Lord Mountbatten, and younger brother, Nicholas. Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. Her husband Norton Knatchbull is Philip's godson and a grandson of Philip's uncle, Louis Mountbatten (per iNews ). The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. She later became the second-most important woman in the Duke of Edinburghs life a constant confidante, loyal companion and keeper of secrets,'" Seward wrote. After theyd spent a weekend with her, [Penny] said that [Diana] appeared to be auditioning for a role in a costume drama. Besides keeping in touch with her old friend, Knatchbull reportedly played a key part in an embarrassing public episode of Philip's retired life. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family.. Charles served as best man at the wedding and, in the years following, Knatchbull actually befriended Charles before getting to know his father. Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. He told journalist Jeremy Paxman: Every time I talk to a woman they say Ive been to bed with her. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart and encouraged her to take up carriage driving, she wrote, per Today. Penny isnt exactly a super-public figure, but shes been a close friend of the royal family for years. This tragedy occurred in real life. Alexandra, a financial analyst known as Knatch, chose to marry Thomas Hooper, an entrepreneur, on what would have been her sister Leonoras 30th birthday. If Philip had been looking down on them, he surely would have been smiling too. Her death is said to be what drove Penelope into a deeper friendship with Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, as per Yahoo! She never betrayed him. Where Did the 'Perfect Match' Couples End Up? 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. Over the years, Knatchbull has been a guest of the familys at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, appeared with Philip at public events, and been photographed on many an outdoor occasion with the duke. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. Penny and Philip met in 1974 and hit it off immediately despite their 32-year age difference, becoming closer when Pennys daughter sadly died of kidney cancer in 1991. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. According to The Sun, Penelope Knatchbull remained one of the few non-relatives to regularly see the prince after his retirement. One source said: He was a tremendous support during a time of unimaginable grief.. 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. 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. That bit of matchmaking didn't work out, but Mountbatten was also supportive of Penelope's entering the family, according to Newsweek. 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. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. She never betrayed him. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. She was 32 years younger than the Duke of Edinburgh. Seward agreed, adding that Philip was not the type of man to discuss private details of his marriage with anyone. Philip, though, was the right consort for Elizabeth when they married, and they have stayed in love ever since, despite going through various ups and downs throughout their . Penny is seen joining the Queen and Prince Philip at a church service at Sandringham circa 2012. 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. She remained close with the royal family, and was one of only a few mourners at Prince Philip's 2021 funeral, which had limited attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. She gave few interviews and never aired dirty laundry about her family in public. The signature decor of the restaurants, with atmospheric lighting over red velour banquettes, had an opulent appeal for diners who still retained memory of rationing during World War II. Her husband Norton Knatchbull is Philip's godson and a grandson of Philip's uncle, Louis Mountbatten (per iNews). Before you start side-eying, Penny was also photographed a ton with Queen Elizabeth II. News, that was the year Knatchbull's daughter Leonora died of cancer. . Penny Knatchbull was known as the confidant and "keeper of secrets" for Prince Philip after meeting him and the Monarch in 1974. To her friends, Penelope Knatchbull is known as Penny. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. ), Penny is the only daughter of Marian Hood and Reginald Eastwoodwho founded Angus Steakhouse. Pennys marriage broke down in 2010, after 31 years and three children. And as usual, the truth is slightly more complicated. Queen Elizabeth and Penny chat at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2001. 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 . 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. 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. But there's no evidence of it. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Penny and Norton at their wedding in 1979. Owing to her husband Norton Knatchbull's declining health due to Alzheimer's disease (per Wales Online), Penelope Knatchbull has had to assume some of his responsibilities to the family's holdings. .css-4xjy6g{display:block;font-family:RundDisplay,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:0.01em;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-4xjy6g:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-4xjy6g{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.9375rem;margin-top:1.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-4xjy6g{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1.25rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-4xjy6g{font-size:1.625rem;line-height:1.2;}}Harry and Meghan Are OK About Leaving Frogmore, Hailey Has Lost 1M IG Followers Amid TikTok Drama, Kim K Is Asking Friends to Set Her Up With Normals, Harry & Meg Have the "Upper Hand" in Royal Talks, Cardi B Shows Off New Face Tattoo of Son's Name, Save 20% on Bella Hadid's Go-to Skincare Tool, See Kelly Ripa's Insane Bikini Instagram Photo, Get Madelyn's Glazed Vanilla French Manicure, Adam Sandler's Wife Jackie Shuts Down Red Carpet, See Mariska Hargitays Emotional Tribute on IG, Urologist Explains How Penis Size Is Increasing. Josh OConnor, who played Prince Charles in seasons 3 and 4, refused to reenact the scandalous conversation. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Previously, she covered culture at Refinery29 and Oprah Daily. Despite his great age, she still acts as a confidante and they share a boisterous sense of humor. If Philip had been looking down on them, he surely would have been smiling too. On top of helping her found a society in memory of her daughter, Philip often invited Penny to Windsor Castle and Sandringham Estate. The British actor also appeared in The Truman Show, Solaris and The Other Boleyn Girl.. What does a purple poppy mean and where can I buy one for Remembrance Day? 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. 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. Penny was introduced to Philip at age 20 while dating husband-to-be Norton Knatchbull, Philip's godson and grandson of the duke's uncle Lord Mountbatten. 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. 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. Countess Penny remained close with the queen even after Prince Philip's death, and was even seen attending the the Royal Windsor Horse Show with her in May. Her husband Norton, now the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, fled to the Caribbean to be with fashion designer Eugenie Nuttall. 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. I read that Matt Smith played the part of Phillip with the idea in mind that he was cheating on Elizabeth. He trusted her implicitly, and she adored him. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Penelope (Penny) Knatchbull, also known as Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who befriended Prince Philip at a polo match in 1975 when she was 20, became one of his closest confidantes despite. Who is Dr James Colthurst, Princess Diana's close friend in The Crown? Three weeks after the accident, which Philip blamed on him being blinded by the low winter sun, it was announced he had stopped driving. A source close to the royal family is slamming Countess Mountbatten's portrayal in "The Crown" as "deliberately cruel" and "unnecessarily unsympathetic." Charles is close to the Knatchbull's children (per Tatler), and Dimbley claims in "Prince of Wales" that they were some of his only friends to warn him against his marriage to Diana Spencer. The Countess is married to Norton Mountbatten, the grandson of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip's beloved uncle who died in an IRA bombing in 1979. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. And sources say that Knatchbull also had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth. "Philip always was a flirt," his biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. Her superpower is matching people up with the perfect book, which she does on her podcast, Blind Date With a Book. 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. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. Shes lost her best friend., The Crowns Princess Diana Debuts Her Revenge Dress, Everything You Need to Know About The Crowns New Season, Imelda Staunton and Jonathan Pryce on Channeling Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Recreating Princess Dianas Prescient 90s Fashion, The Crown Season 5 Is a Compelling Prelude to Tragedy, What Happened When Fake Charles Met Real Camilla, From the Archive: Dodis Life in the Fast Lane, Discover More Real-Life Royal Scandals With VFs Dynasty Podcast, 2023 Cond Nast. Queen Elizabeth attends Norton and Pennys wedding. Wales Online reported that Norton Knatchbull suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has had to delegate titles and management of his estates to Penelope as he declines. There may be no evidence for rumors that Penelope Knatchbull and Prince Philip carried on an affair, but it is a matter of public record that Penelope's own marriage was marred by infidelity. Penny Knatchbull Was Prince Phillip's Best Friend. In 1981, when it was in the hands of Penelope and Norton Knatchbull, Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent the first part of their honeymoon there as well. 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, Adin Ross swatted: Dramatic video revealed as swat team arrive at streamers home for the second time in 3 months. Charles was the best man when Penelope and Norton married. 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. 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. 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. She was only 5 years old. 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. Their marriage gave her the title of Lady Romsey, later becoming The Lady Brabourne in 2017, and she has now inherited the title of Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Penny was introduced to Philip at age 20 while dating husband-to-be Norton Knatchbull, Philips godson and grandson of the dukes uncle Lord Mountbatten. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. Educated in Switzerland, and with a business degree from the London School of Economics, friends describe her as being outgoing, engaged, clever and well-read. Everything You Need to Know About Penny Knatchbull, Turns Out Charles and Camilla Met Through His Ex, Harry and Meghan Are OK About Leaving Frogmore, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. The royal family attended, and Prince Charles, the groom's second cousin, even served as best man. Apparently, the intimate scenes involve touching hands as he divulges details of his marriage and well actively see them pursuing an affair.. She also noted that the queen was sufficiently aware and presumably comfortable with her husband's flirtatious tendencies to joke about it. Below are some key moments from their her friendship with the late Duke of Edinburgh through the years. 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. Pamela Hicks said that she was very aware that Prince Phillip liked to flirt and she didnt mind, says Bedell Smith. The Duke of Edinburgh and Penelope Knatchbull carriage riding in 2007. It was the first season of the series to be released following both the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April 2021 and the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.. Imelda Staunton stars as Elizabeth, along with main cast members Jonathan . A TV insider last year said: The highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by the Queen or the rest of the Royal Family.. To prove that he has nothing to hide, Philip even convinces his wife to befriend Penny (played by Natasha McElhone) herself. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. February 27, 2023 . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. James Hockaday and Elizabeth Atkin Thursday 10 Nov 2022 5:00 pm. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. However, despite their estrangement, Penelope and Norton remained legally married. The Express claimed that the queen was impressed by how Knatchbull handled the death of her daughter Leonora and her fortitude in the face of her husband Norton's well-publicized affair. So how the hell could I get away with anything like that?". The Sun reported that Knatchbull was born in London, England, on April 16, 1963. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Netflix are not interested in peoples feelings.. 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. By coincidence, Leonora shared the same birthday as Uncle Dickie. Queen Elizabeth II's thoughts and feelings on nearly everything were opaque. She did allow Norton back to Broadlands in 2014, not to themarital home, but to a converted barn there. It's more than friendship that Penelope Eastwood Knatchbull shared with Prince Philip.