Who is Penelope 'Penny' Knatchbull? Prince Philip's close friendship led many to believe he was cheating on Queen
The Queen faces a complex decision on invitees to Prince Philip's funeral due to Covid-19 guidelines. With only 30 people allowed, the stripped-down services for Prince Philip will be attended by only his closest family and friends. One of them is Penny Knatchbull, a close confidant of the duke for decades.
'Penny' is well known around the Palace, as she and the duke have been close since at least 1994. The two bonded of the equestrian sport of carriage driving, a traditional royal pass time that the duke was extremely fond of.
"Penny and the Duke of Edinburgh shared decades of affection," a source told Grazia. "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 somber occasion."
RELATED ARTICLES
Who are Prince Philip's German 'blood' relatives? Great-nephews and cousin to attend duke's funeral
'Invite X, Y, and also Penny'
They were so close that she was often called 'and also' by Palace insiders, a testament to the fact that she would be added to any event. It was common to hear Prince Philip say, "invite x, y, and also Penny".
Penny confirmed her attendance at the duke's funeral as reported by the Daily Mail. Here's a look at who exactly Penny is and how she became such a close companion to the duke. A friend who has known her once said, "She was one of the most natural young women I have ever met, outgoing but not brash or flirty."
Who is Penny Knatchbull?
Officially called the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Penelope Meredith Mary Knatchbull has gone by several names in the past. Until 2005, she was known as Lady Romsey. Between 2005 and 2017, she was known as The Lady Brabourne. In June 2017, she received her present title of the Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Born on April 16, 1953, Penny is the only daughter of Marian Hood and Reginald Eastwood.
Penny did most of her schooling in Switzerland, before graduating from the London School of Economics in 1976. On October 20, 1979, she married Norton Knatchbull. Knatchbull's family is closely related to the royal family. Norton's grandfather was Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle, and his cousin is Prince Charles. The duo got married under grim circumstances, with Norton's grandfather being killed in an IRA bomb just months prior.
Instant hit with the royal family
The couple also has three children: Nicholas Louis Charles Norton Knatchbull, Lady Alexandra Victoria Edwina Diana Hooper and Leonora Louise Marie Elizabeth Knatchbull. Leonora died at the age of five due to kidney cancer.
Penny became an instant hit with the royal family when she was first introduced in 1975. She became very close to both Prince Philip and the Queen following the death of Leonora in 1991. She shared their love for the outdoors, which allowed their friendship to flourish. Reportedly, in 1994, the duke offered to teach her carriage driving. Since then, they have reportedly competed in multiple carriage shows across the country.
Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip's beautiful friendship
The friendship with Prince Philip was more public, while her relationship with the Queen was more private, Hello Magazine reported. In 2010, Norton left Penny to be with a Bahamian fashion designer but returned after dumping her. Penny's handling of the incident drew widespread praise from The Palace. She took over running the Broadland's estate and did so with great success.
It was this that made her a favorite of both the Queen and Prince Philip, allowing her to become a regular fixture at all royal events. Interestingly, she was also one of the first people to suggest Charles and Diana were ill-suited for each other. She is also credited with getting Prince Philip to give up his license after a driving accident in 2019.
At one point many thought he was cheating on the Queen with her
Since his retirement from royal duties, the duke has been frequently visited by Penny. Many years back, courtiers called their friendship the 'Penny Romsey situation' after a lengthy secret telephone conversation between Penny and Prince Philip was leaked by an electronic eavesdropper. In fact, the duo was so close that at one point many thought he was cheating on the Queen with her. While they were never proved, the rumors were strong enough to persist for years.
Having been such a frequent part of the royal family, it is no surprise that Penny made the list of attendees to the duke's funeral. Earlier this month, she accompanied the Queen in a car as the royal party was driven to a service at the parish church at Sandringham. She is one of the few outsiders to be nearly considered family at the Palace, and without her, it is certain the duke would consider his funeral incomplete.
