Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma

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The Right Honourable
The Countess Mountbatten of Burma
Coronet of a British Earl.svg
Lord Mountbatten of Burma-CoA-Knatchbull-Shield.svg
High Steward of Romsey
Assumed office
2010
Preceded byThe Lord Brabourne
Personal details
Born
Penelope Meredith Mary Eastwood

(1953-04-16) 16 April 1953 (age 68)
London, England
Spouse(s)
Children
  • Nicholas Louis Charles Norton, Lord Brabourne
  • The Lady Alexandra Hooper
  • The Honorable Leonora Knatchbull

Penelope Meredith Mary Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, (née Eastwood; born 16 April 1953), known between 1979 and 2005 as Lady Romsey, and between 2005 and 2017 as The Lady Brabourne, is a British peeress and the wife of Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Since 2010, she has served as High Steward of Romsey.[1]

Early life[]

Born Penelope Meredith Mary Eastwood in London, England, she is the only daughter of Reginald Eastwood (1912–1980), founder of Angus Steakhouse,[2] and Marian Hood (1926–2020). She had one younger brother, Peter Eastwood (1955–2013). Penelope grew up and was educated in Switzerland. In 1976, she graduated from the London School of Economics.[3]

Marriage and children[]

On 20 October 1979 at Romsey Abbey, she married Lord Romsey, son and heir of The 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma and The 7th Lord Brabourne. The groom's second cousin, The Prince of Wales, served as best man. The family seat is Broadlands, Hampshire.

The wedding took place two months after the assassination of her husband's grandfather Louis, The 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, by an IRA bomb.

Lady Mountbatten and her husband have three children and two grandchildren:

  • Nicholas Louis Charles Norton Knatchbull, Lord Brabourne (born 15 May 1981), his father's heir apparent; married Ambre Pouzet on 20 May 2021 at Broadlands.
  • Lady Alexandra Victoria Edwina Diana Hooper (née Knatchbull; born 5 December 1982); married Thomas Edward Huntly Hooper on 25 June 2016, at Romsey Abbey.[4] They have two children:
    • Inigo Norton Sebastian Mountbatten Hooper (born 21 December 2017)
    • Alden Peter Theodore Mountbatten Hooper (born 27 March 2020)[5]
  • The Honourable Leonora Louise Marie Elizabeth Knatchbull (25 June 1986 – 22 October 1991). She died of kidney cancer at the age of five years and is buried in the grounds of the family home, Broadlands. The charity Leonora Children's Cancer Fund was founded in her memory.

Friendship with the Royal Family[]

Since her marriage, Lady Mountbatten has been in close contact with the Royal Family. She frequently attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show as a guest of the Royal Family. She was particularly close to the late Duke of Edinburgh since the 1990s when they participated in Carriage Driving Competitions. She was one of only 30 mourners at his funeral on 17 April 2021 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.[6][7][8]

At her daughter's wedding in 2016, The Prince of Wales gave the bride away.[4]

Duties[]

  • High Steward of Romsey, appointed 2010,[9] inaugurated 2 March 2011[10][11]
  • Founder of the Leonora Children's Cancer Fund, now the Edwina Mountbatten and Leonora Children's Foundation
  • Patron or President of various organizations and charities
  • Running of the Broadlands Estates and family businesses with her husband until she took over the enterprises full time when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease

Honours[]

References[]

  1. ^ Craig, Alison (3 December 2010). "Lady Brabourne to be High Steward of Romsey". Southern Daily Echo.
  2. ^ Sitwell, William (10 March 2021). "One of my biggest regrets? I wish I'd eaten at an Angus Steakhouse". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. ^ Sholdice, David (2 February 1996). "Lady Romsey". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b Yorke, Harry (25 June 2016). "The Queen attends 'society wedding of the year' as Prince Charles gives away Lord Mountbatten's great granddaughter". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  5. ^ Cope, Rebecca. "Princess Diana's goddaughter welcomes second child". Tatler. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Prince Philip: Duke's four children to walk alongside coffin at funeral". BBC News. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Factbox: The 30 mourners at Prince Philip's funeral". Reuters. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Court Circular: April 17, 2021". The Times. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  9. ^ Craig, Alison (3 December 2010). "Lady Brabourne to be High Steward of Romsey". Southern Daily Echo.
  10. ^ "Lady Brabourne makes pledge to serve town well". Romsey Advertiser. 4 March 2011.
  11. ^ New High Steward of Romsey. Memorial website to honour Admiral of the Fleet The Rt Hon. Lord Louis Mountbatten. 3 December 2010.
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