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Privacy NoticeThroughout nearly one thousand years of royal history, numerous royals have significantly contributed to the family’s popularity and influence. Queen Victoria would undoubtedly top this list due to her strategic marriages of her children and grandchildren into European Royal Families. However, another Royal deserves recognition for his contributions. Lord Louis Mountbatten, born as Prince Louis of Battenberg and a grandson of Queen Victoria, was often hailed as the Royal Family’s ‘secret weapon’. He served as a mentor to his godson, King Charles. Several family members have honoured Louis Mountbatten’s memory. King Charles named his first son ‘Louis’ as a middle name, and Prince William continued the tradition by giving it as Prince George’s third name and his youngest son’s first name. Sign up to OK’s royal newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Prince William, Prince George and Prince Louis have all been named after Lord Mountbatten
(Image: Getty Images)
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Prince Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas was born at Frogmore House on the Windsor Estate on June 25, 1900, to Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. He had three older siblings: Alice, Louise, and George. Alice became Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark and was the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Louise became the Queen of Sweden, and George succeeded his father as the 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven. Prior to WWI, he was known as Prince Louis of Battenberg. However, in accordance with King George V’s decision to change the Royal Family’s surname from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor amidst anti-German sentiment, his German relatives followed suit. The Battenbergs decided on the more Anglo-sounding ‘Mountbatten’ as their new surname. After receiving his education at the esteemed Royal Naval College situated in Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, Louis dedicated his life to a career within the Royal Navy.
Lord Mountbatten was Prince Philip’s uncle
(Image: PA)
Among his many roles, he held important titles like First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral of the Fleet, and Chief of the Defence Staff. In 1922, Lord Louis tied the knot with rich socialite Edwina Ashley, and together they had two daughters – Patricia Knatchbull, who later became the 2nd Countess of Burma, and Lady Pamela Hicks. Although renowned for their extramarital affairs, Louis Mountbatten famously joked, “Edwina and I spent all our married lives getting into other people’s beds.”
Lord Mountbatten was previously known as Prince Louis of Battenberg
(Image: Hulton Archive)
Known for his numerous accolades and recognition, one of his most influential roles was orchestrating the first meeting between his nephew, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (then known as Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark), and Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of King George VI. Lord Louis was not only a mentor to his godson, Charles, whom he affectionately called his “honorary grandson”, but also left a lasting legacy within the Royal Family names. On the tragic day of August 27, 1979, while staying at Classiebawn Castle in Northern Ireland, Lord Mountbatten went lobster potting in Mullaghmore harbour. Unbeknownst to him, the IRA had planted a radio-controlled bomb on his boat the previous night.
Lord Mountbatten was King Charles’ mentor
(Image: Getty Images)
Tragically, the explosion claimed the lives of Lord Mountbatten, his grandson Nicholas Knatchbull, Lady Brabourne, and a local teenager, Paul Maxwell. The solemn funeral for Louis Mountbatten took place at Westminster Abbey on September 5, with the Royal family uniting in mourning. In a poignant tribute, King Charles included ‘Louis’ as one of Prince William’s middle names, a tradition that the Prince and Princess of Wales honoured by naming their first son George Alexander Louis and their youngest son Louis, reflecting the close bond Prince Charles shared with Lord Mountbatten. The name Louis continues to resonate throughout the Royal Family, with Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Lady Louise Windsor, and several other relatives carrying this meaningful connection to Lord Louis Mountbatten.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnKate MiddletonPrince GeorgePrince HarryPrince LouisPrince PhilipPrince WilliamRoyal FamilyQueen Elizabeth IIPrincess CharlotteKing Charles III
