Lord Ivar Mountbatten
Lord Ivar Mountbatten | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten 9 March 1963 London, England |
| Noble family | Mountbatten |
| Spouses | |
| Issue | Ella Mountbatten Alexandra Mountbatten Louise Mountbatten |
| Father | David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven |
| Mother | Janet Mercedes Bryce |
Lord Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten, DL (born 9 March 1963) is a British aristocrat, farmer, geologist, businessman, and reality television personality. A second cousin of King Charles III, he is the first member of the extended royal family to be openly in a same-sex relationship, and in 2018 became the first to have a same-sex wedding, marrying airline cabin services director James Coyle. He is a former director of SCL Group, the parent company of the now-defunct data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica.[1][2]
Early life and family
Ivar Alexander Michael 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.[3] He is also a second cousin of King Charles III through their respective fathers. His paternal grandfather was Prince George of Battenberg, through whom he is a morganatic descendant of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt. Mountbatten grew up at Moyns Park in Essex.[4]
In a June 2022 interview with Tatler Mountbatten commented on the 1930s Gloria Vanderbilt child custody trial, where a maid made an allegation 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.[5]
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.
Career
Mountbatten began his career as a geologist and spent significant time working in South America during his early career.[6] Starting in 1995, Mountbatten began his involvement in business pursuits, including being the director of the UK subsidiary of DMX Music and being involved with Coldharbour Mill Working Wool Museum.[7] Mountbatten was later involved with SCL Group, the parent company of the now-defunct data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica.[1][2] Mountbatten also serves as a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon.[8]
In 2019, Mountbatten began a career in reality television by starring in the sixth series of Treasure Island with Bear Grylls.[2] He also appeared on Keeping up with the Aristocrats on ITV in 2022.[9]
In October 2024, Mountbatten was announced to be part of the third season of the American reality competition series The Traitors, which premiered on 9 January 2025.[10] He was one of the season's Faithful winners, along with Dolores Catania, Dylan Efron, and Gabby Windey.[11]
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 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:
- Ella Louise Georgina Mountbatten (born Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, 20 March 1996) – goddaughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.
- Alexandra 'Alix' Nada Victoria Mountbatten (born Bridwell Park, Uffculme, Devon, 8 May 1998) – goddaughter of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
- Louise 'Luli' Xenia Rose Mountbatten (born Bridwell Park, 30 July 2002).
The couple separated in September 2010 and divorced amicably in November 2011, after 17 years of marriage.
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.[12] On 22 September 2018, they were married in a private ceremony at Bridwell Park. Mountbatten's former wife walked him down the aisle and 'gave him away' at the suggestion of their daughters.[13]
Mountbatten is a godparent of Lady Louise Windsor (born 2003), the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie.[14]
Mountbatten inherited Moyns Park in 1992 along with his brother, George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven,[15] but in 1997 moved to Bridwell Park in Uffculme, Devon. Following his divorce from his wife, in 2015 he converted Bridwell Park into a venue for weddings, corporate functions, and business events, and in 2024 he sold the property.[2]
References
- ^ a b Brown, David (21 March 2018). "SCL Group's founders were connected to royalty, the rich and powerful". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d Stenson, Mary (7 September 2024). "Fascinating life of Lord Mountbatten as he says goodbye to Devon estate". Devon Live. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Marquess of Milford Haven". huffpost.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ Bell, Matthew (17 June 2021). "The royal who won The Traitors US: Inside the world of Lord Ivar Mountbatten, King Charles' cousin who triumphed on the show". Tatler. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Meet the trailblazing Royal power couple Lord Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle at home". Tatler. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Treasure Island with Bear Grylls: Interview with Ivar | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "Ivar Alexander Michael MOUNTBATTEN personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Companies House. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "His Majesty's Deputy Lieutenants | Lord-Lieutenant of Devon". Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ Stavrou, Athena (29 January 2025). "Who is Lord Ivar Mountbatten? King Charles' cousin starring in the Traitors US". The Independent.
- ^ "Boston Rob, Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause & More Join The Traitors Season 3: Cast Details". NBC Insider Official Site. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ "Who Won The Traitors? All About The Traitors Season 3 Finale (Recap)". NBC. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ^ Harley, Sarah (17 September 2016). "Queen's cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten has spoken of his decision to come out as gay after finding love". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ Reynolds, Daniel (17 June 2018). "Get Ready for the First Gay Royal Wedding". Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ "Announcement of the christening of Lady Louise Windsor". The Royal Family. 8 April 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Bell, Matthew (17 June 2021). "The royal who won The Traitors US: Inside the world of Lord Ivar Mountbatten, King Charles' cousin who triumphed on the show". Tatler. Retrieved 20 February 2026.