Meet Lord Ivar Mountbatten – the late Queen’s gay cousin who made royal history

Lord Ivar Mountbatten made historical past when he grew to become the primary member of the prolonged royal household to publicly admit to being homosexual and likewise the primary to enter right into a homosexual marriage.

Learn his story additional…

adolescence

Ivar is the son of Janet Mercedes Bryce and David Mountbatten, the third Marquess of Milford Haven. He was educated at Gordonstoun Faculty in Scotland, the identical faculty that educated King Charles and Prince Philip. He additionally attended faculty in Vermont, USA.

Relationship with royal homes

Ivar is the great-great grandson of Queen Victoria and a relative of the late queen and Prince Philip. His father David was the godson of the Duke of Windsor, finest man on the marriage ceremony of the queen and Prince Philip and a mentor To the then Prince Charles.

Princess Margaret and Prince Edward attended Ivar's first marriage ceremony and he’s godfather to Girl Louise Windsor.

First marriage

Ivar married Penny Thompson in April 1994, and he or she knew her husband was bisexual. They married on the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Clare, Suffolk, adopted by a reception at Moyns Park.

The couple remained married for 16 years and separated in 2010, divorcing in November 2011. Ivar informed the daily mail“Finally, Penny didn't get sufficient love and needed extra from her husband than she may get from me. Given my sexuality, I'm stunned she married me. It was a courageous factor to do. Possibly she thought she may change me, however in the long run she realized she couldn't.”

Kids

Ivar has three daughters with Penny: Ella, Louise, and Alix. He has a really shut relationship with all three and has usually commented publicly about how supportive they’re of him and his ongoing relationship.

Ella is Prince Edward's goddaughter, whereas Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is Alix's godmother.

Popping out

“Being a Mountbatten was by no means an issue,” Lord Ivar stated. the daily mail“This was the technology I used to be born into. Once I was rising up, it was referred to as ‘love that dare not communicate its title,’ however what’s superb now’s how far we’ve all come by way of acceptance.

“'Being out' is a really humorous phrase, however I feel I've achieved it in a roundabout method, rising into a spot the place I'm pleased. I've struggled with my sexuality and in some methods I nonetheless battle; it's been an actual journey to get so far.”

The love story of James and Ivar

The couple met in Verbier, Switzerland, in March 2015 when airline cabin service director James mistook Ivar for a ski information he had flown with earlier than. They struck up a dialog and commenced calling recurrently and occurring dates.

Ivar spoke about his early love affair Tatler“We talked to one another on the telephone a lot that it was a bit like Celia Black's Blind Date, the place we have been speaking to one another via a display.”

It took a number of weeks earlier than Ivar launched James to his household. James stated: “He doesn't beat across the bush, and that's the wonderful thing about Ivar, he units his thoughts on one thing and sticks to it. He doesn't play any video games, to the purpose the place you're virtually searching for a catch. He's very down-to-earth and really simple to like.”

Ivar proposes to James within the kitchen of his dwelling, Bridewell Manor.

Marriage

In 2018, James and Ivar married in a ceremony in Devon, and the royal mantle was handed on to him by his first spouse, Penny, who has been supportive all through his journey.

On Instagram Ivar wrote: “Effectively we lastly did it! It was an incredible day regardless of the UK climate. Great service organised by Devon's chief registrar Trish Harrogate who organised the occasion in an ideal however light-hearted method for a severe event.” He additionally thanked the gospel choir, Bristol's Academics Rock choir and the photographer.

He added: “Most significantly an enormous thanks to my three stunning daughters who’ve been so understanding and supportive, with out their help this might by no means have been doable! And eventually the largest thanks to James who was completely excellent.”

His household dwelling

The three ladies, James and Ivar, dwell on the Grade I listed Bridewell Manor in Devon, which additionally has a deer park with 300 deer.

Because of monetary constraints, in April this 12 months Ivar introduced he was promoting the Georgian nation pile for the spectacular worth of £5.5 million.

making historical past

Ivar wrote about his expertise IndependentHe stated: “It was nonetheless very worrying to have a lot consideration from the press all over the world centered on me in a single day, declaring me to be the 'first homosexual royal'. The response of my family and friends made me very anxious, and I puzzled if my world would immediately collapse round me.

“My fears have been unfounded. After all everybody was extremely supportive, and it quickly grew to become clear that within the scheme of issues, your sexuality is of no significance to others. In my case, it's truthful to say that after I got here out of the closet and spoke out publicly, I puzzled what all of the fuss was about.”

Royal response

Whereas Prince William hasn't stated something straight in regards to the match, talking to an LGBTQ+ charity in London in 2019 he stated he would “absolutely help” his kids in the event that they have been homosexual, however added: “From a mother or father's standpoint it worries me what number of boundaries there may be, hateful phrases, harassment, all of that and discrimination, that's the factor that basically worries me.”

The queen's cousin informed Tatler Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie have been “very supportive” of the wedding and thought James was “implausible”.

She additionally stated that her aunt Nadezhda Mountbatten, the 2nd Marchioness of Milford Haven, “was a lesbian”, including: “The older technology of my household has seen and achieved all of it earlier than.”