WHO IS PENNY KNATCHBULL (CONTINUED)?
Penny was introduced to Philip at the age of 20 when she was with future husband Norton Knatchbull, Philip’s godson and grandson of the Duke’s uncle, Lord Mountbatten.
Norton had been to the Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun for a year over Prince Charles, and the Queen and Philip never forgot his kindness to care for their eldest child during his challenging time there.
Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, the daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher who turned business and started the Angus steakhouse restaurants.
Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten – known affectionately as Uncle Dickie by the royals – was murdered by the IRA.
The bomb explosion on board his fishing boat off the Irish county Sligo, featured in the last series of The Crown, also killed Norton’s 14-year-old brother Nicholas and his grandmother Lady Brabourne.
Devastated by the horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months, but later said “yes”.