Getty28th March 1980: The grandson of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Lord Romsey, with his wife Penelope seated in the Wedgwood Room of Broadlands, once the home of Lord Louis Mountbatten, on the announcement that the 16th-century stately home would reopen to the public on 1st April 1980. Dominic West, his successor, will. Who is Dr James Colthurst, Princess Diana's close friend in The Crown? When he got into a car accident in 2019, Queen Elizabeth II decided that her husband needed to give up driving. The Oscar nominees play the queen and her consort during the mid-'90s, a time period famously rife with scandal for the royal family, in, Prince Harry on Williams Hairline and Their Wicked Stepmother. In the movie, Philip and the Queen are discussing Charles ongoing affair with Camila. 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. Indeed, Philip taught Penny the sport of carriage driving, and she was spotted attending the Royal Windsor Horse show with Queen Elizabeth II, People reported. Philip always had women friends. 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. And they were often seen chilling at events: These two were so close, in fact, that Penny was one of only 30 mourners at Philips funeral: And she was also one of the mourners at the Queens funeral: According to reports from The Sun, The Crowns fifth season will showcase Prince Philip in intimate scenes with Penny. Promise. Philip and Kirkwood reportedly met on on seven occasions, and while she has always denied they had an intimate relationship, as rumors of "the prince and the showgirl" ran rampant, she had to. The fifth-season story lineabout Philips relationship with his carriage-driving companion, who was more than 30 years youngercaused controversy even before episodes aired. Three weeks after the accident, which Philip blamed on him being blinded by the low winter sun, it was announced he had stopped driving. Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's Friendship, 'Outer Banks' Season 3 Arrives in February, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Pennys marriage broke down in 2010, after 31 years and three children. The couple revisited the estate in 2007 and recreated one of the photos from that time for their 60th wedding anniversary. Knatchbull was born Penelope Eastwood. I think because [the queen] understood him very well and she recognized [the friendships] for what they werethat they were based on some element, like carriage driving or a fondness for the work of Carl Jung, and that they were not affairs. Where Did the 'Perfect Match' Couples End Up? 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. One source said at the time: Not for a moment would Penny allow her husbands departure to interrupt the smooth running of the estate.. To palace staff, she had another nickname: "And Also." The queen was said to have "been impressed" with Knatchbull when Penny's future husband, Norton, introduced them in 1975 (per Daily Express ). To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. It's also implied in the movie, The Queen but that is also written by Peter Morgan. Leonora Romsey with Princess Diana on the balcony At Buckingham Palace For Trooping The Color on June 15, 1991. Months later, in September, she attended the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey. Penelope Knatchbull had a long-term friendship with Prince Philip. 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. Indeed, she has 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. Of course, incidents like this on the Isle of Wight only fuelled whispers that they may have been more than just good friends. Penny hasnt commented publicly on her or Philips depiction in the show just yet, but stay tuned! Bedell Smith notes that Knatchbull was not the first woman with whom Philip had a close female friendship that raised eyebrows. Who Is Penny Knatchbull? Inside Her Relationship To Prince Philip The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now. Penny continued to visit Philip until he died on April 9. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. The Crown casts Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull, Prince Philip's 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. Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull. What does a purple poppy mean and where can I buy one for Remembrance Day? 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. The Royals Won't Like This Prince Philip Plot on 'The Crown | Marie Claire Penelope Knatchbull (ne Eastwood) is the wife of Norton Knatchbull, the grandson of Earl Mountbatten ( The Crown watchers know him as Uncle Dickie) and Prince Philip's own godson. But the highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by Her Majesty or the rest of the royal family.. Sometimes tragedy builds unlikely bonds between people. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), 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, Inside Prince Philips highly personal relationship with Penny Knatchbull the only non-Royal invited to his funeral. According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, Penny and Philip's friendship blossomed after the family tragedy. On the inside, behind the large ornate story, their relationship was going through a shift. She knew it was absolutely nothing., Though Philip and Knatchbull never had a romantic relationship, their friendship was undoubtedly close. 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. 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. However, despite their estrangement, Penelope and Norton remained legally married. 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. Penelope Knatchbull and Prince Philip in 2007. She never betrayed him. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. 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. Philip always was a flirt and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. 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. She explicitly said, I did not go to bed with him. They shared this passion for Carl Jung that also Prince Charles had.. Pennys marriage broke down in 2010, after 31 years and three children. Her presence at the funeral among only thirty attendees is exactly what the late Duke would have wanted, and the entire family will be pleased to have her among them on the sombre occasion. Penny Knatchbull was known as the confidant and "keeper of secrets" for Prince Philip after meeting him and the Monarch in 1974. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. Only a handful of locations remain open, and the chain's future was in serious doubt as of 2021. It traded hands among the nobility for centuries until Mountbatten acquired it by marriage. 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. 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. Of course, incidents like this on the Isle of Wight only fuelled whispers that they may have been more than just good friends. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Restaurant critics from the Telegraph to The Guardian have taken shots at Angus Steak House's reputation. 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. 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. Indeed, she has 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. Coming just weeks after the nation laid Her Majesty to rest next to Prince Philip, this is very distasteful and, quite frankly, cruel rubbish, Dickie Arbiter, the queen's former press secretary, told The Sun. Im talking about the Countess of Westmorland, the Duchess of Abercorn, clarifies Bedell Smith. Courtesy of Netflix; Steve Parsons/PA Wire. According to People, that meeting came in 1974, and she made a good impression from the start. Seward noted the monarch's affection in her book "Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century," connecting her along with Philip to Knatchbull's presence at royal functions and her nickname "And Also". And I thought it was very comparable to the kind of relationship he had with Penny., Though Knatchbull has never spoken publicly about Philip, Bedell Smith notes that Sacha Abercorn attempted to put rumors to rest. News. Attn: everyone wondering if she *really* had an affair with Prince Philip. 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. "Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart. The queen and prince consort weren't the only royal couple to visit Broadlands. 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.. 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. 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. Elena Nicolaou is a senior entertainment editor at Today.com, where she covers the latest in TV, pop culture, movies and all things streaming. In a conversation with Sally Bedell Smith, who wrote best-selling biographies of Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth, the author noted that Knatchbull became so close to Charles that she and her husband were among the few friends who tried to persuade him not to marry Diana. Have you ever stopped to think that for years, I have never moved anywhere without a policeman accompanying me? 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.. 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 . Penny and Norton Knatchbull had three children: Alexandra, Nicholas and Leonora. Although Prince Philip was 32 years Knatchbull's senior, she soon became known as Prince Philip's "keeper of secrets" in British tabloids. ", IRA assassinated Philip's grandfather, Lord Mountbatten. After the young Leonoras 1991 death, Charles was consolingand his father also drew closer to Knatchbull. 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. The Crown's Penny Knatchbull star has been in shows from ), Penny is the only daughter of Marian Hood and Reginald Eastwoodwho founded Angus Steakhouse. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. A source close to the royal family is slamming Countess Mountbatten's supposed portrayal in "The Crown" as "deliberately cruel" and "unnecessarily unsympathetic." 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.