According to Express, Norton had an affair that became public, and Penny ordered him to stay in a converted barn, although she took him back. She also noted that the queen was sufficiently aware and presumably comfortable with her husband's flirtatious tendencies to joke about it. Princess Diana seeks revenge, Princess Margaret reunites with an old flame, and many more juicy subplots await in the Netflix seriess most scandal-rich season yet. 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 simply an intellectual and spiritual companionship, nothing more. The Daily Mail quoted an anonymous aide saying that when they drew up a guest list for a family function, private or public, big or small, Prince Philip would review the invitations and inevitably say, "and also Penny." James Crawford-Smith 11/9/2022. Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten affectionately known by the royals as Uncle Dickie was assassinated by the IRA. Norton and Penny Knatchbull on their wedding day. 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.. Charles served as best man at the wedding and, in the years following, Knatchbull actually befriended Charles before getting to know his father. He is a grandson of Lord. The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh was reportedly smitten by the aristocratic Penny, who, at just 20, was over three decades his junior. In the first episode of season 4, Lord Mountbatten was blown up on a fishing boat by the Irish Republican Army (the IRA). Lydia Hawken: All their latest coverage | Daily Mail Online The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. Romsey told Knight that Diana would talk to Charles like a fish wife and that she was very abusive to him.. The British actor also appeared in The Truman Show, Solaris and The Other Boleyn Girl.. So why is her appearance in The Crown so controversial? She also appeared at. However, despite their estrangement, Penelope and Norton remained legally married. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. Penny Eastwood was the daughter of a very rich meat trader, the founder of the Angus Steakhouse chain, and married Norton Knatchbull, a cousin of Prince Charles and godson of Prince Philip - in 1979 57. He trusted her implicitly and she adored him. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. Penny was the second-most important woman in the Duke of Edinburghs life a constant confidante, loyal companion and keeper of secrets,' she wrote. Who Is Penny Knatchbull? Prince Philip's Close Friend in 'The Crown' However, there is no question that Knatchbull and Philip were very close. Where are 'Scream killers' Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik now? And one more thing connects the couple to the royal family: their house. Shes lost her best friend, Express reported. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. 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. Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull were friends throughout the Duke of Edinburgh's life and Penny shared his passion for outdoor pursuits and horses. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. The day after Philip was laid to rest at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, Irish republican party Sinn Fein the political wing of the IRA apologised for Mountbattens assassination. Bedell Smith notes that Knatchbull was not the first woman with whom Philip had a close female friendship that raised eyebrows. Either way, the Queen and Penny remained close even after Philips death. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. Penelope Knatchbull's constant presence at Prince Philip's side from the 1990s on was almost bound to excite rumors. Philip also gives sound advice on the running of the Broadlands estate, and they have the ability to cheer each other on even in the direst of circumstances. And as usual, the truth is slightly more complicated. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Weeks before The Crown's fifth season premiered on Nov. 9, rumors were already circulating that the new episodes would cover Prince Philip and now-Countess Penny's friendship. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family.. "Philip always was a flirt," his biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun. As a 1975 photo cited by Today shows, Penelope Easton Knatchbull was friendly with the then-prince of Wales, only shortly after her first introduction to the royal family. Educated in Switzerland, and with a business degree from the London School of Economics, friends describe her as being outgoing, engaged, clever and well-read. Per the Hampshire Chronicle, Penelope who is known affectionately as Lady Penny in Romsey pledged loyal service to the community. In 1981, when it was in the hands of Penelope and Norton Knatchbull, Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent the first part of their honeymoon there as well. She remained close with the royal family, and was one of only a few mourners at Prince Philip's 2021 funeral, which had limited attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ad Choices. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. "The Crown" has exploited these rumors more than once, and previews for its fifth season showed him discussing his marital woes with Knatchbull and showing physical intimacy. Her superpower is matching people up with the perfect book, which she does on her podcast, Blind Date With a Book. For an example of how ubiquitous Knatchbull's presence in royal events is, just look to Philip's funeral. .css-5rg4gn{display:block;font-family:NeueHaasUnica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-5rg4gn:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin:0.75rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:0.02rem;margin:0.9375rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;margin:0.9375rem 0 0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;}}'Outer Banks' Season 3 Arrives in February, Riley Keough Explains Sex Scene With Her Husband. Inside Prince Philip's 'highly personal' relationship with Penny Knatchbull To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Mountbatten was a strong influence on the future King Charles III, who dubbed his great-uncle an honorary grandfather, as per Jonathan Dimbleby's "The Prince of Wales: A Biography." The relationship between Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip is causing controversy. GettyLord Brabourne and Lady Brabourne attend the funeral service of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma at St Pauls Church in Knightsbridge on June 27, 2017 in London, England. Besides keeping in touch with her old friend, Knatchbull reportedly played a key part in an embarrassing public episode of Philip's retired life. Her marriage troubles came on top of worry about their son, Nicholas, who was a year above Prince William at Eton, and had spent years hooked on crack cocaine and heroin. The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. It's also implied in the movie, The Queen but that is also written by Peter Morgan. The truth is that Penny was a long-time friend of the whole family. Knatchbull was born Penelope Eastwood. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. To prove that he has nothing to hide, Philip even convinces his wife to befriend Penny (played by Natasha McElhone) herself. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. A TV insider last year said: The highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by the Queen or the rest of the Royal Family.. Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart following the death of her five-year-old daughter, Leonora, from kidney cancer in 1991, wrote Ingrid Seward in 2020s Prince Philip Revealed. She and Prince Philip reportedly forged a connection over their mutual love for the outdoors and horses. Penelope Knatchbull was still Penelope Eastwood when she first met the royal family. 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. Three weeks after the accident, which Philip blamed on him being blinded by the low winter sun, it was announced he had stopped driving. The Queens former press secretary Dickie Arbiter told the Sun: This is cruel rubbish.. Educated in Switzerland, and with a business degree from the London School of Economics, friends describe her as being outgoing, engaged, clever and well-read. Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull. THEIR friendship spanned decades and often raised eyebrows. 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 Crown 'to infuriate royals by delving into Prince Philip and Penny When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? Broadlands, the Romsey estate the Knatchbulls call home, dates back to before the 11th century and was once part of the local abbey. / norton knatchbull illness. Sometimes tragedy builds unlikely bonds between people. Beyond the sport, The Crown also shows Philip's deep bond with Knatchbull. Of course, incidents like this on the Isle of Wight only fuelled whispers that they may have been more than just good friends. Previously, she covered culture at Refinery29 and Oprah Daily. Whatever moved Norton to flee Britain and pursue his affair, he seemed to have a change of heart. Penny Eastwood marries Norton Knatchbull at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire, England. And now, in the series fifth season, the first installment to air after Prince Philips and Queen Elizabeths deaths, Morgan returns to this fascination in the episode The System, exploring the idea of spouses growing apart (or, as The Crowns Philip says, growing in separate directions), and introducing the close real-life friendship between Philip (Jonathan Pryce) and his carriage-driving partner Lady Penny Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma (Natascha McElhone). The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. 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. According to People, that meeting came in 1974, and she made a good impression from the start. Penny Knatchbull & Prince Philip Relationship: 5 Facts | Heavy.com Her father was Reginald Eastwood, described by the Sun as a butcher-turned-businessman.. Appearing on Palace Confidential, Dr Dunlop commented on a storyline in The Crown which will see Prince Philip pursuing a relationship with British aristocrat Penny Knatchbull. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Although she mostly grew up in Sweden, Penny was incredibly close to the royals thanks to her marriage to Norton Louis Philip Knatchbull. The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. Questions hovered over their friendship in the press, with some speculating more was going on. He trusted her implicitly and she adored him. It isn't only the tabloids that have spread the moniker; Ingrid Seward's biography, "Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century," says that Queen Elizabeth II herself shared Philip's fondness for Knatchbull and was just as keen to have her included. What really happened between Penelope Knatchbull and Philip? The Crown News, that was the year Knatchbull's daughter Leonora died of cancer. She became such a close confidant of his that she was often referred to his And Alsowhen listing his guests for an event, he would conclude with and also Penny.. If she had been hurt by rumours of supposed dalliances, she would never let on., Philip himself would simply laugh off any suggestion of impropriety. But it was after Pennys five-year-old daughter Leonora died of kidney cancer in 1991 that Philip really began to take her under his wing. On top of helping her found a society in memory of her daughter, Philip often invited Penny to Windsor Castle and Sandringham Estate. And sources say that Knatchbull also had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth. Knatchbull lost her 5-year-old daughter Leonora to kidney cancer in 1991; The New York Post reports that The Crown argues this tragedy brought her closer to Philip. The Daily Mail published photos of Norton and Nuttall strolling through Nassau after the split. Who is Penelope Knatchbull? Prince Philip's best friend in The Crown 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. In May last year, tattooed Nicholas, 40, a music producer and gardener, married Ambre Pouzet, a French former fire-eating mermaid performer. Apparently, the intimate scenes involve touching hands as he divulges details of his marriage and well actively see them pursuing an affair.. Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's Friendship, 'Outer Banks' Season 3 Arrives in February, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. 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. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Did Prince Philip have an affair? The Crown's Penny Knatchbull She also appeared at Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in 2022, when the monarch died at age 96. Its absolutely cuckoo.. "We'll never know how the Queen felt about it all," Philip's biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun. 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. 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. The Knatchbulls' five-year-old daughter Leonora dies after a 14-month battle with cancer. Although Prince Philip was 32 years Knatchbull's senior, she soon became known as Prince Philip's "keeper of secrets" in British tabloids. She is one of 30 mourners present, including immediate family members. Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, GMB's Kate Garraway reveals crippling cost of caring for her husband Derek, Stephen Bear 'broke behind bars' as his company is shut down before he's jailed, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Philip and Penny, who is 32 years younger than the late Duke of Edinburgh, are said to have first met in 1975 when she became engaged to Norton Knatchbull. She did allow Norton back to Broadlands in 2014, not to themarital home, but to a converted barn there. The fifth-season story lineabout Philips relationship with his carriage-driving companion, who was more than 30 years youngercaused controversy even before episodes aired. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Norton had been a year above Prince Charles at Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun and the Queen and Philip never forgot his kindness in looking after their eldest child during his challenging time there. The event being dubbed the Wedding of the Year with over 900 guests in attendance from almost all of Europes leading families. Penny and the Duke of Edinburgh shared decades of affection, a source told Grazia. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. Its absolutely cuckoo.. She was seen the next year at the Royal Windsor Host Show, which she had so often attended with him, as a guest of the queen. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. Penny continued to visit Philip until he died on April 9. The full blossoming of friendship between the prince and Knatchbull came in 1991. According to Prince Philip's biographer, the royal befriended the countess when "her life began to fall apart.".