How are Prince Phillip and Close Family Friend Penelope Mountbatten related?

[Luc1nda]

I've tried googling but can't figure it out. Are they not related (through marriage)? If they are related (in any way) diagrams appreciated!

[TheGinGenie]

They're related through marriage. Her husband is the grandson of Louis Mountbatten who was Philip's uncle

[TheGinGenie]

I want to say they're first cousins once removed (through marriage) but I'm not sure!

[AnnaMagnani]

She is his 'carriage driving partner' - interpret that however you like

[DangerFrog]

There's also a family connection to the Queen, but it's not as close a link.

Wikipedia has a family tree

[Luc1nda]

Her husband is the grandson of Louis Mountbatten who was Philip's uncle

This was my suspicion but I couldn’t prove it. This is to settle an argument with DP’s DB

[ArriettyJones]

It’s made complicated because every time someone in the family dies, they all inherit new titles and so change names.

Penelope’s husband (now very ill) is Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, so the grandson of THE Earl (Lord Louis) Mountbatten who died in the late 70s in the terrorist incident. Lord Louis Mountbatten was Prince Phillip’s uncle.

So basically, Penny’s MIL (Patricia Knatchbull, Second Countess Mountbatten of Burma) and Prince Philip are first cousins.

[ArriettyJones]

This was my suspicion but I couldn’t prove it.

It was also unusual that the Earldom was inherited down the female line before passing to Penny’s husband. It couldn’t be more confusing.

Actually Amanda - Norton’s sister and Penny's SIL, was put forward as a potential bride for Prince Charles, so thinking about it, it COULD be even more confusing

[Luc1nda]

Thank you Arrietty! How come it's rare for the title to pass down a female line? Would it normally go to the nearest male heir?

[DamselInTheStress]

Yes English titles are usually men-only; Mountbatten had 2 daughters when the earldom was created for him so they allowed women to inherit it as a special favour

[DamselInTheStress]

2 daughters no sons I mean.

[ArriettyJones]

Would it normally go to the nearest male heir?

Yes. Definitely unusual in the U.K. peerage for daughters to inherit.

I think they had it set up that way when the Earldom was created because by then he had two daughters in late teens and early twenties but no sons.

[ArriettyJones]

(Sorry @DamselInTheStress I left that tan open for ages meaning to post again and managed to cross post with you by more than an hour! )

I think there have been a couple of women in the House of Lords who were allowed to inherit titles as exceptional cases, but only because of a complete lack of male cousins or second cousins, I think.

It is a ridiculous state of affairs.

Every time there is new legislation on this or that the aristocracy gets an exemption on sex discrimination. It can’t last forever.

[Luc1nda]

Thank you both!

[lyralalala]

Even the change for Mountbatten wasn't that big, the passing to a female was only valid for his daughters. So if he'd had only granddaughters it wouldn't have gone to them, it amuses me when it's touted as an example of forward thinking.

As if we're not daft enough to know they'll all have been hoping that Patricia's unborn child (she was pregnant when he was upgraded to Earl) was a boy.