or
Sign in with lockrMail

Who Is Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Of Mountbatten & Why Was She Invited To Prince Philip's Funeral?

who is penelope knatchbull nd countess of mountbatten tro
Source: MEGA

Prince Philip watches the Driving Grand Prix from a car driven by his friend Penelope Knatchbull during the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2019

April 16 2021, Published 12:25 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

Prince Philip will be laid to rest at St. George's Chapel on April 17, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, just 30 people will be in attendance. And though most people recognized the list of names announced by Buckingham Palace, there were a few that stuck out, such as Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

Article continues below advertisement

Knatchbull is a close confidante of Philip's and also a distant relative, as she's married to the grandson of Philip's late uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten.

According to Tatler, the Duke of Edinburgh and Knatchbull struck up a friendship around 1994, when he began teaching her how to drive a carriage.

The two have been good friends ever since, and Knatchbull also grew close to Philip's wife, Queen Elizabeth II.

PRINCE PHILIP'S FUNERAL WILL TAKE PLACE AT WINDSOR CASTLE — SEE PHOTOS OF THE REHEARSALS FOR THE UPCOMING EVENT

The trio's bond grew even stronger when the mother-of-three's husband, Norton Knatchbull, allegedly had an affair, reported the Daily Express.

Article continues below advertisement
Source: The Royal Family/Instagram

The U.K. newspaper shared that "Penelope was often seen in public riding alongside the Duke and saw the Queen regularly in private," adding that "she was a regular guest at the weekend house parties Philip held at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate," where he lived after he retired.

Article continues below advertisement

In addition to Knatchbull, all of Philip and Elizabeth's four children — Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne — will be at the funeral, as will their spouses.

The Duke's eight grandchildren —  Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn — are also set to attend, with some of their spouses receiving invites.

Source: The Royal Family/Instagram
Article continues below advertisement

Buckingham Palace revealed it was "difficult" for the matriarch to make the short guest list, since the ceremony is "a family funeral and at its heart it is still a family event."

Advertisement

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 THE ROYAL OBSERVER™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. THE ROYAL OBSERVER is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.