James said -, “It’s a very modern marriage. It's that complicated and that simple, but finding James means I will not have to lie to anyone or grow old on my own. 1930-2002) and his close friend Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex (b.1964). The Queen’s cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten and his husband, James Coyle. s a direct descendant of Queen Victoria (1819(1837-1901), he is in the line of succession to the British Throne and is a third cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952- ) and he is also a first cousin once removed to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (b.1921). across the bar. 'I suppose I'm quite traditional.' It's hard to imagine a more relaxed set-up. I was the first member of the extended family to come out as gay, but I didn’t feel the need to discuss my sexuality with the royals because it’s such a non-issue.
So yes, I suppose I do quite like to shock. 'All her friends go on weekends where they snog each ocher, boy or girl, then go back and tell each ocher.
He said - "I never thought I would get married because I didn't want to be untruthful. 'I like to teach him things, make him do things he's not used to. 'When we were younger we went to royal events all the time . You've got to try everything once, that's what my mother always said. The reception was one of the last family events at their former home of Moyns Park. Ivar is the first member of the extended British Royal family to come out publicly as gay. I told her I was bisexual, that my attraction went both ways. The sense of relief and freedom they both feel today is palpable. James had also spent years trying to bury his sexuality. Hope Coke, As autumnal nights approach, here are some royal recommendations to help keep us all entertained at home, By The lavish reception after the service was held at Moyns Park, the vast Elizabethan house in Essex that Ivar inherited from a cousin. Penelope wore a family tiara, which belonged to his great-grandmother - Countess Sophie of Mernberg, Countess de Torby (1868-1927), the morganatic wife of Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia (1861-1929). I kept it up for seven years. In the old days we’d go to royal events, but it’s been slimmed right down and that seems like the right thing to do. He recalls life there in the Seventies and Eighties as being 'like Downton Abbey. As a direct descendant of Queen Victoria (1819(1837-1901), he is in the line of succession to the British Throne and is a third cousin once removed to Queen Elizabeth II (1926(1952- ) and he is also a first cousin once removed to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (b.1921). But now with James in his life, Ivar has once again committed to running the house, which he has developed into a successful wedding hire venue. Penny was aware before we got married. 'I went on a few dates, and that's when I thought, "do I really want to go down that route again, of having girlfriends?" If even one of the daughters had been unhappy about it I don't think it would have worked. It virtually ruined me." Tap ‘Menu’ and then ‘Times Radio’ to listen to the latest well-informed debate, expert analysis and breaking news. You can opt out at any time or find out more by reading our cookie policy. Ivar's father, David Mountbatten, was first cousin to Prince Philip, and 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven, whose uncle Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India, and mentor to Prince Charles. She was understanding and I will always be grateful to her. Lord Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten, DL was born on 9th March 1963 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, the youngest son of David Michael Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven (1919-1970) and Miss Janet Mercedes Bryce (b.1937). She was understanding and I will always be grateful to her. Perhaps most remarkable of all, there seems to be no losers in their story. It's clear that James has fitted in well to life at Bridwell. He bought it in 1997 with Penny, after downsizing from Moyns when Ella was just one. 6,436 Followers, 464 Following, 262 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ivar (@ivar_mountbatten)
Ivar roars with laughter. There have been times when Bridwell, though 'a fifth of the size of Moyns', has also been too much. Please, James (left), 58, and Ivar, 57. 'They're very supportive and think James is brilliant.
Ivar and Penelope separated in September 2010 and divorced in November 2011. They quickly knew they wanted to be together, and within weeks James had been introduced to Ivar's Family. Even though that's what I was most comfortable with, because I was used to it.' But now that everyone has had children, quite rightly everything has slimmed down.' 'But then they don't really talk about it. We had a lot of fun, we have three fabulous daughters and I don't regret any stage of my life." Lord Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten, DL. Ivar is a third cousin once removed of the Queen and a first cousin once removed of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, ADRIAN SHERRATT FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE, Listen to Times Radio for the latest well-informed debate, expert analysis and breaking news. My aunt Nada [Nadejda Mountbatten, 2nd Marchioness of Milford Haven] was a lesbian. Mountbatten bezeichnet: den englischen Zweig des deutschen Adelsgeschlechts Battenberg, siehe Battenberg (Adelsgeschlecht) ... Ivar Mountbatten (* 1963), britischer Adeliger; Louis Mountbatten, 1. One thing I will say about Ivar is that you're always outside your comfort zone. I sense that Ivar likes to shock. The British royal family’s first openly gay couple on love, divorce and untidiness . Lord Ivar Mountbatten still hasn't got used to the idea of having a husband. And finally the biggest thank you to James for being just perfect." 'I still wasn't comfortable with it at that point,' he says now. 'He's not vain at all, oh my god no,' says James. We are sitting in the small but elegant library at Bridwell, which has been Ivar's home for more than 20 years. Only ten years ago, for a member of the Royal Family to come out as gay and remarry to a man would have been unimaginable. The girls are very accepting." ', To mark Pride month, here's the Tatler pick of the movies to watch and enjoy, By ‘A Dutiful Boy’ is Zaidi’s story of growing up in a strict Muslim household where to be gay was inconceivable, Penny has a new partner and Ivar's three daughters are entirely accepting of their father's choice, speaking of it without embarrassment over lunch. There's no game playing, to a degree where you're almost looking for the catch. Penelope 'gave away' Ivar, at the suggestion of their daughters. Miss Ella Louise Georgina Mountbatten, born 20th March 1996 at Rosie Maternity Hospital, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire - a god-daughter of Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex (b.1964), Miss Alexandra 'Alix' Nada Victoria Mountbatten, born 8th May 1998 at Bridwell Park, Uffculme, Devon - a god-daughter of Sophie, Countess of Wessex (b.1965), Miss Louise 'Luli' Xenia Rose Mountbatten, born 30th July 2002 at Bridwell Park, Uffculme, Devon. James agrees. But everything changed when he met James. When James has a spare ticket on a long haul flight, he will take one of the girls with him, and they will share his hotel suite: he has taken them each to San Francisco, Rio and Hong Kong. He had been married to Lady Edwina Ashley Mountbatten since 1922. It's a sign of the speed at which public attitudes to gay equality have changed more broadly that Ivar and James say they have yet to receive a single negative reaction from anyone.
He grew up as one of four, and remembers his father referring to him as 'the queer one' when they were young. IvarI’ve been born into a very traditional family and brought up in a very traditional way. George decided to sell his share to his brother following his own financial problems and said later - "It was like putting three or four grand a week into a bucket and dropping it down a well, and all because of the aristocracy's obsession with keeping their estates going for the next generation. It has been lovely.'. It has been on the market twice in the last five years, last year for £5 million, but has not sold due to the difficult market conditions caused by Brexit. Like his elder brother - George, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven (b.1961) and many of his Mountbatten relations, Ivar was educated at Gordonstoun School and he subsequently graduated with a degree in geology from Middlebury College, Vermont, New Hampshire, USA. When they go on holiday together, Ivar will make James go abseiling or skydiving, when all James wants is to lie on a beach. I mean, the royals, they don't communicate very well.'. Afterwards, the 64 guests, who included Ivar's three daughters from his first marriage, drank Pol Roger and were serenaded by a gospel choir. He also wanted to prove that people who live in big houses aren't incompetent layabouts. Framed photographs of royal occasions, such as a picture of the Queen and Ivar on the royal yacht Britannia, give clues as to who lives here, but otherwise the style is classic and neutral.
'And chat's the delightful thing about Ivar, he makes his mind up about something and sticks to it. The royal family has grown bigger over the years and I’m on the periphery now. Isaac Bickerstaff, The newlywed royal enjoyed some quality time with her husband’s four-year-old son, From My Beautiful Launderette to Brokeback Mountain, the best LGBTQIA+ films to watch now, Why high-flying barrister Mohsin Zaidi’s memoir of a gay Muslim’s journey to acceptance is a must-read, Lord Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle launch pop-up cafe at Bridwell Park, When the Duchess of Sussex met Gloria Steinem, Royal book club: The works adored by the Royal Family, Princess Beatrice takes stepson Wolfie on supermarket trip. Matthew Bell, Pride and Joy: Lord Ivar Mountbatten (left) and his new husband, James Coyle relax at home. He is the more domestic of the two, the consummate host, forever offering drinks and setting guests at their ease. Together they plan to evolve it further, moving out of the main house into the lodge which they will refurbish and extensively remodel into a large, comfortable house, allowing them to rent the main house out for conferences, away days and more weddings. In September 2016, Ivar announced that he was in a relationship with James Coyle (b.1962), an airline cabin services director, who he met in Verbier, Switzerland in 2015. Registered in England No.