Lord Ivar Mountbatten


Lord Ivar Alexander Michael Mountbatten, DL 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.

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. 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 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.
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.

Career

In 2025, Mountbatten competed on the third season of the American reality competition series The Traitors. He was one of the season's Faithful winners, along with Dolores Catania, Dylan Efron, and Gabby Windey.

Personal life

Mountbatten married Penelope Anne Vere Thompson, 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:
The couple separated in September 2010 and divorced amicably in November 2011, after 17 years of marriage. In 2015, he converted their former home, Bridwell Park, into a venue for weddings, corporate functions, and business events.
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. 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.
Mountbatten is a godparent of Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie.
In October 2024, Mountbatten was announced to be part of the new season of The Traitors US, which premiered on 9 January 2025. He won the series, along with Dylan Efron, Dolores Catania, and Gabby Windey.