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. Penelope 'Penny' Knatchbull remained one of Prince Philip's closest friends for several decades (Picture: Netflix) Netflix . And so it was the same kind of thing. 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. She was diagnosed with cancer and died at age 5. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. What really happened between Penelope Knatchbull and Philip? The Crown She was dating Norton Knatchbull at the time. 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. However, despite their estrangement, Penelope and Norton remained legally married. Penelope Knatchbull had a long-term friendship with Prince Philip. It's also implied in the movie, The Queen but that is also written by Peter Morgan. When he got into a car accident in 2019, Queen Elizabeth II decided that her husband needed to give up driving. According to The Sun, Knatchbull, otherwise known as Countess Mountbatten is married to Norton Knatchbull, the Earl Mountbatten. 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. Her death is said to be what drove Penelope into a deeper friendship with Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, as per Yahoo! Though Philip and Knatchbull never had a romantic relationship, their friendship was undoubtedly close. "This is cruel rubbish," Queen Elizabeth II's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said of the storyline (per The Sun). For their part, Knatchbull and the royals gave no public credence to the rumors. Born Penelope Meredith Mary Knatchbull (are you even a member of English high society if you dont have a million names? Leonora Romsey with Princess Diana on the balcony At Buckingham Palace For Trooping The Color on June 15, 1991. And one more thing connects the couple to the royal family: their house. Philip always was a flirt and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. Season 5 of The Crown starts streaming on November 9, 2022, according to Netflix. What does a purple poppy mean and where can I buy one for Remembrance Day? Its interesting, though slightly tangential, but after he retired to Wood Farm where he continued his carriage driving, he would go out every morning at nine. The couple revisited the estate in 2007 and recreated one of the photos from that time for their 60th wedding anniversary. Who is Penny Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma? | Woman & Home 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). The Sun reported that Knatchbull was born in London, England, on April 16, 1963. Beyond the sport, The Crown also shows Philip's deep bond with Knatchbull. Philip helped to popularize the sport in the United Kingdom, and Knatchbull's embrace of it is said to have kept him involved in competitions into his 90s. 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. 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. The Crown set to tackle Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's - mirror Per Hampshire Live, he opened his house to Queen Elizabeth II and Philip in the first days of their honeymoon. Jeannie, as she is known, is the sister of former Bahamas Attorney General Sean McWeeney. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family., Meanwhile, back in 2021, The Sun reported that Penny had 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.. They also opened the Mountbatten Exhibition on the estate (per AP). Bedell Smith notes that Knatchbull was not the first woman with whom Philip had a close female friendship that raised eyebrows. Philip's close relationship with Penny Knatchbull explained: 'Neither of them gave a damn' PRINCE PHILIP had a very close relationship with one of the surprise attendees at his funeral,. Tatler reports that King Charles III is godfather to the Knatchbull's oldest, Nicholas, and that he gave Alexandra away at her wedding to Thomas Hooper in 2016 (Norton was said to be too ill). To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart following the death of her five-year-old daughter, Leonora, from kidney cancer in 1991, wrote Ingrid Seward in 2020s Prince Philip Revealed. Penelope Knatchbull's constant presence at Prince Philip's side from the 1990s on was almost bound to excite rumors. Did Prince Philip Really Have an Affair? - Town & Country Seward called her a touchstone of royal life, writing, She (provided) a touchstone to the outside world and (told) both Philip and the queen about whats going on.. 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 . She even stayed close through the Duke of Edinburgh's final days. ", IRA assassinated Philip's grandfather, Lord Mountbatten. On the inside, behind the large ornate story, their relationship was going through a shift. The Crown Season 5 Episode 2 Who is Penelope Knatchbull in The Crown? 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. She remained a close companion to Philip for his whole life. She was seen standing behind the Queen, broad grins on both their faces. 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. They were friends, she was married, she lived nearby. Express reported that Penny regularly saw Philip before his death, and the Queen sought her help to get the aging Duke of Edinburgh to stop driving. 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 Crown's Penny Knatchbull star has been in shows from To prove that he has nothing to hide, Philip even convinces his wife to befriend Penny (played by Natasha McElhone) herself. In real life as on Netflix, the story of Uncle Dickie was one of the Royal Familys greatest traumas and tragedies as he was, indeed, murdered by the Irish Republican Army at age 79. 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. 'The Crown': Who Is Penny Knatchbull, Prince Philip's Friend? Their Penny later became Lady Romsey after she married Prince Philip's . Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. A family friend said: Its very unusual to be given away by someone else at your wedding, even if it is by the Prince of Wales. Charles served as best man at the wedding and, in the years following, Knatchbull actually befriended Charles before getting to know his father. Norton is also the grandson of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Philip's uncle, notes Newsweek. Inside Prince Philip's 'highly personal' relationship with Penny Knatchbull In May last year, tattooed Nicholas, 40, a music producer and gardener, married Ambre Pouzet, a French former fire-eating mermaid performer. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. He trusted her implicitly and she adored him. Penny is thought to have met Philip in 1974 when she was dating Norton Knatchbull, now the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, one of Prince Charles's closest friends at Gordonstoun School in Scotland. One source said: He was a tremendous support during a time of unimaginable grief.. The Crown creator Peter Morgan has long been fascinated by the 73-year marriage between Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, devoting story lines in the series first four seasons to the unique power dynamicdramatizing, for example, Philips struggle sacrificing his naval career to support his wife just five years into their marriage, when she suddenly became queen. Philip always was a flirt and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. The royal family attended, and Prince Charles, the groom's second cousin, even served as best man. According to Seward, Knatchbull was close to both Elizabeth and Philip, and is a friend to their son, now-King Charles III. Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. On top of helping her found a society in memory of her daughter, Philip often invited Penny to Windsor Castle and Sandringham Estate. 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. 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. A source close to the royal family is slamming Countess Mountbatten's supposed portrayal in "The Crown" as "deliberately cruel" and "unnecessarily unsympathetic." Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's Relationship Timeline THEIR friendship spanned decades and often raised eyebrows. The two bonded when Prince Philip took Knatchbull under his wing and offered support following the death of her 5-year-old daughter, Leonora, to kidney cancer in 1991, according to People. 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. Theyre also distantly related by blood: Norton is the grandson of of Philips uncle, Louis Mountbatten. When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? 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. 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. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family.. One source said: He was a tremendous support during a time of unimaginable grief.. 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. News. RSPCA rescue dog after it's seen being dragged along road by woman on a mobility scooter as witnesses scream in horror. She and Prince Philip reportedly forged a connection over their mutual love for the outdoors and horses. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. When asked more broadly about allegations he had affairs, Philip would snap at the press. Besides keeping in touch with her old friend, Knatchbull reportedly played a key part in an embarrassing public episode of Philip's retired life. 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. 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. Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. norton knatchbull illness Penny Knatchbull Was Prince Phillip's Best Friend. He told journalist Jeremy Paxman: Every time I talk to a woman they say Ive been to bed with her. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. The queen and prince consort weren't the only royal couple to visit Broadlands. 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. More recently, she spends time with Philip at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate and is credited with persuading him to give up his driving license after his 2019 accident. 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. "Philip always was a flirt," his biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun. Ingrid says: They were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. Ingrid Seward, author of biography Prince Philip Revealed: A Man Of His Century, said: The Queen had enlisted the help of the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who visited Philip and helped convince him to give up driving.. She was seen standing behind the Queen, broad grins on both their faces. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. Penelope and Norton Knatchbull have had three children together (per Tatler): Nicholas, Alexandra, and Leonora. The relationship between Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip is causing controversy. Penny Eastwood marries Norton Knatchbull at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire, England. In 2010, Norton left Penny to be with a Bahamian fashion designer but returned after dumping her. After the young Leonoras 1991 death, Charles was consolingand his father also drew closer to Knatchbull. 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 later became the second-most important woman in the Duke of Edinburghs life a constant confidante, loyal companion and keeper of secrets,'" Seward wrote. According to Prince Philip's biographer, the royal befriended the countess when "her life began to fall apart.". The Crown (season 5) - Wikipedia Penny was the second-most important woman in the Duke of Edinburghs life a constant confidante, loyal companion and keeper of secrets,' she wrote. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. Philip's biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun that she dispatched Knatchbull to carry out the difficult task of convincing him to surrender his driver's license. Of course, incidents like this on the Isle of Wight only fuelled whispers that they may have been more than just good friends. Philip always was a flirt and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, 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, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). 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. Her husband is Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma . Broadlands, the Romsey estate the Knatchbulls call home, dates back to before the 11th century and was once part of the local abbey. Penny is seen joining the Queen and Prince Philip at a church service at Sandringham circa 2012. But the two have continued to have a presence in each other's lives. 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. He was also shown forging a close relationship with Prince Charles, as mentor and father figure. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. 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. Philip's relationship with Penny Knatchbull: 'Neither gave a damn' "The Crown" has exploited these rumors more than once, and previews for its fifth season showed him discussing his marital woes with Knatchbull and showing physical intimacy. The fifth season of The Crown, which follows the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, was released by Netflix on 9 November 2022. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. Prince Philip, officially opened and was shown round the new art, drama and dance facilities at the further education college which offers up to 2,000 courses. The family has continued to honor the memory of Uncle Dickie, most recently in the choice of the name Louis for the third child of Prince William and his wife, Kate. 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. News, that was the year Knatchbull's daughter Leonora died of cancer. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. THEIR friendship spanned decades and often raised eyebrows. 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. Did Prince Philip have an affair? The Crown's Penny Knatchbull She was 32 years young than he was, but they developed a close friendship over the years, bonding over their love of outdoor activities and all things equestrian.. 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 was dubbed and also because she was so often included in Royal events, according to Express. In the Netflix series, "The Crown," Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were the epitome of a perfect, at least for the world. The queen and Knatchbull at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2018. 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. The Daily Mail quoted an anonymous aide saying that when they drew up a guest list for a family function, private or public, big or small, Prince Philip would review the invitations and inevitably say, "and also Penny." She also noted that the queen was sufficiently aware and presumably comfortable with her husband's flirtatious tendencies to joke about it. Per the Hampshire Chronicle, Penelope who is known affectionately as Lady Penny in Romsey pledged loyal service to the community. He told journalist Jeremy Paxman: Every time I talk to a woman they say Ive been to bed with her. Before you start side-eying, Penny was also photographed a ton with Queen Elizabeth II. The house, which formerly belonged to Lord Mountbatten, is to be re-opened to the public. One source said at the time: Not for a moment would Penny allow her husbands departure to interrupt the smooth running of the estate.. 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 is a member of the British aristocracy and related by marriage to the royals, including both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. 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. Ingrid says: They were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. The queen was said to have "been impressed" with Knatchbull when Penny's future husband, Norton, introduced them in 1975 (per Daily Express ). "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Norton, who is also known as Lord Romsey, inherited the ceremonial office of High Steward of Romsey in 1979,according to the Daily Echo, along with the Broadlands estate outside the town center. 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. She never betrayed him. Per Yahoo! Attn: everyone wondering if she *really* had an affair with Prince Philip. Shes lost her best friend, Express reported. 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. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. 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 Daily Mail published photos of Norton and Nuttall strolling through Nassau after the split. Below are some key moments from their her friendship with the late Duke of Edinburgh through the years. Dominic West, his successor, will. She gave few interviews and never aired dirty laundry about her family in public. Carriage driving is a sport where one driver steers a carriage drawn by one, two, or four horses, with three tests of skill and speed. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. That was certainly the case between Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull.