Ivar gay
Queen Elizabeth's cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten says it was 'alarming' to be named 'the first gay royal'
Lord Ivar Mountbatten, cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, opened up in an essay for The Independent about what it was like to approach out as Britain's "first gay royal."
The essay published on Sunday was titled "As the 'first male lover royal', I owe everything to those who struggled for LGBT acceptance."
In the essay, Mountbatten wrote about attending Brighton Pride for the first time with his husband, James Coyle, in 2019, and added that his coming out experience was "a lot less traumatic" than Coyle's, who he said endured "rejection, bullying and abuse."
"That said, having the world's press shine a vast spotlight on me overnight proclaiming me 'The First Gay Royal' was nonetheless pretty alarming," Mountbatten wrote.
"The reaction of my friends and family concerned me a lot, and I wondered if my planet would suddenly collapse around me," he added.
Mountbatten was previously married to a woman named Penny for 17 years and they have three daughters together. He had been expose with Penny about his sexuality, Mountbatten wrote, and after they divorced in
Meet Lord Ivar Mountbatten - the belated Queen's gay cousin who made royal history
Lord Ivar Mountbatten made history when he became the first member of the extended royal family to publicly come out as gay and the first to acquire a same-sex wedding.
Read on for his story...
Early life
Ivar is the son of Janet Mercedes Bryce and David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven. He was educated at Gordonstoun School in Scotland, the equal school that educated King Charles and Prince Phillip. He also attended college in Vermont in the US.
Connections to the royals
Ivar is the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria and is related to the late Queen and Prince Phillip. His father David was the godson of the Duke of Windsor, the finest man at the wedding of the Queen and Prince Phillip, and a mentorto the then Prince Charles.
Princess Margaret and Prince Edward attended Ivar's first wedding and he is the godfather to Lady Louise Windsor.
First marriage
Ivar married Penny Thompson in April 1994, and she knew her husband was bisexual. They wed at the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Clare, Suffolk, followed by a Reception at Moyns Par
Fix up, look acute listeners, we acquire (extended) royalty in the house! 👑 This week we are joined by the charming and wonderfully candid Lord Ivar Mountbatten, first cousin once removed to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and third cousin one removed to Her Majesty The Queen. 💂🏻♂️
As the only openly-gay member of the extended royal family, Ivar shares an entirely unique perspective on what it is like to be gay in 21st century Britain. From Gordonstoun (posh!) to Bridwell Park (his country estate), Ivar talks to us about his encounter of being same-sex attracted in the aristocracy, the role his former wife played in helping him to live his truth and the advice he has for people of his generation struggling with their retain sexuality. 🏳️🌈
What a guy, and what a privilege to spend some period with him. Express gratitude you Ivar! ✨
The One That Got A Gay explores the lives of gay, lesbian and other LGBTQ+ people who spent many years living linear lives all the while knowing that’s not necessarily who they truly were.
A resource for anyone struggling with their own sexuality or the sexuality of a friend or family member and a guide for allies looking to support people in the process of comin In April 1994, extended royal family member Lord Ivar Mountbatten and his bride-to-be Penny were preparing for a wedding. Prince Edward (and his then-girlfriend Sophie) were there to support his friend and cousin on his big time, while Penny recalled Princess Margaret sticking pins into her hair to keep the giant Mountbatten family tiara from falling off as she signed her label next to Ivar's, declaring them spouses. Twenty-four years later, they establish themselves again preparing for a wedding – but this second, Penny was there to assist Ivar as she gave him away to the man he loved. READ MORE:Why Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York is still loyal to the royal family In 2016, Ivar made history when he came out, making him the first openly-gay member of the royal family. The 61-year-old is related to both the after time Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, as the Mountbattens and the Windsors are closely related. Ivar's father was the 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven and first cousin to Prince Philip, even serving as best man at his wedding to Queen Elizabeth. Ivar is Elizabeth's third cousin onc
Meet Lord Ivar Mountbatten, the first openly gay royal family member