Lord Ivar Mountbatten Explained

Lord Ivar Mountbatten
Birth Name:Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten
Birth Date:9 March 1963
Birth Place:London, England
Father:David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven
Mother:Janet Mercedes Bryce
Spouse:
    Issue:Ella Louise Georgina Mountbatten
    Alexandra Nada Victoria Mountbatten
    Louise Xenia Rose Mountbatten
    Noble Family:Mountbatten

    Lord Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten, DL (born 9 March 1963) is a British aristocrat, farmer, geologist and businessman. He is a former director of SCL Group, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica.[1]

    He is the first member of the British monarch's extended family openly in a same-sex relationship,[2] and upon marrying his partner James Coyle in 2018[3] was the first to have a same-sex wedding.[4]

    Early life and family

    Mountbatten was born in London, to David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven, and the former Janet Mercedes Bryce. His elder brother is George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven. Queen Victoria was his great-great-great-grandmother, and he is a descendant of Alexander Pushkin and Abram Gannibal.[5] He is also a second cousin of King Charles III through both of their fathers. His paternal grandfather was Prince George of Battenberg, through whom he is a morganatic descendant of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt.

    Mountbatten was educated at Gordonstoun School, the same school attended by Prince Philip and Charles III, and he graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont with a BA degree.

    In a June 2022 interview with the Tatler Mountbatten commented on the 1930s Gloria Vanderbilt child custody trial, where a maid alleged of a lesbian affair between the child's mother Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and the Marchioness of Milford Haven, Mountbatten's grandmother. He stated she was a lesbian.[6]

    Personal life

    Mountbatten married Penelope Anne Vere Thompson (born Salisbury, Wiltshire, 17 March 1966), only daughter of Colin Graham Thompson of Old Manor House, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, and his wife Rosemary Vere Edwardes. The ceremony took place on 23 April 1994 at the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Clare, Suffolk. They have three daughters:

    The couple separated in September 2010 and divorced amicably in November 2011, after 17 years of marriage. In 2015, he converted their former home, Bridwell Park, into an exclusive-use venue for weddings, corporate functions, and business events.

    In September 2016, Mountbatten revealed that he was in a relationship with James Coyle, an airline cabin services director whom he met while at a ski resort in Verbier.[7] On 22 September 2018 they were married in a private ceremony on Mountbatten's estate of Bridwell Park. Mountbatten's former wife walked him down the aisle and 'gave him away' at the suggestion of their children.[8]

    Mountbatten is one of the godparents of Lady Louise Windsor (born 2003), the daughter of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie.[9]

    Notes and References

    1. News: SCL Group's founders were connected to royalty, the rich and powerful. David. Brown. www.thetimes.co.uk.
    2. News: The first person in the royal family has just come out as gay. Beresford. Meka. 22 September 2017.
    3. News: Queen's cousin marries in first gay royal wedding . Duffy . Nick . 24 September 2018 .
    4. News: The first ever gay royal wedding has taken place. 24 September 2018. 24 September 2018.
    5. News: Marquess of Milford Haven. huffpost.com. December 13, 2023.
    6. Web site: Meet the trailblazing Royal power couple Lord Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle at home. 22 June 2022. Tatler. 22 June 2022.
    7. News: Harley. Sarah. Queen's cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten has spoken of his decision to come out as gay after finding love. The Telegraph. 17 September 2016. 22 September 2017.
    8. News: Reynolds. Daniel. Get Ready for the First Gay Royal Wedding. 17 June 2018. 18 June 2018.
    9. Web site: 2004-04-08. Announcement of the christening of Lady Louise Windsor. 2021-11-13. The Royal Family. en.