The Queen’s gay cousin says family wasn’t fazed by him coming out
Ivar Mountbatten (R) and husband James Coyle (L) on their wedding day (Instagram)
The Queen’s gay cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten has said that his family were largely on board with him coming out.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten became the first member of the Queen’s family to enter a same-sex marriage in September 2018, when he wed his partner James Coyle in a quiet ceremony.
The minor aristocrat, who is the Queen’s third cousin but not a member of the official Royal Family, told Tatler that he still finds it “quite odd” to have a husband, joking: “I suppose I’m quite traditional.”
Lord Ivar Mountbatten: Family were ‘very cool’ with sexuality.
Lord Ivar, who has three children by ex-wife Penelope Anne Vere Thompson, said his family were not particularly bothered about him coming out.
He said: “When I mentioned it to Ella [Ivar’s eldest daughter] she was very cool about it.
“All her friends go on weekends where they snog each other, boy or girl, then go back and tell each other. I think that generation are just totally unfazed by it all.”
“Queen’s gay cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten with his husband James Coyle on holiday in Mexico (Instagram/ivar_mountbatten)
His 81-year-old mother Janet Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, was also unfazed.
Lord Ivar said: “The older generation of my family have seen and done it all before. They were quite wayward in the 1940s.
“My aunt Nada [Nadejda Mountbatten, 2nd Marchioness of Milford Haven] was a lesbian.
“You’ve got to try everything once, that’s what my mother always said.”
Royal Family haven’t been in touch.
However, it doesn’t sound like the official royals have been in touch following the happy news.
He admitted: “They don’t really talk about it. I mean, the royals, they don’t communicate very well.”
Lord Ivar shared a photo from his wedding on Instagram last year, writing: “Well we did it finally! It was an amazing day despite the miserable British weather.
“Fabulous service conducted by Trish Harrogate, chief Registrar for Devon, who set the perfect but lighthearted tone for what is a serious occasion.
“The accompanying gospel choir were amazing. Thank you so much to Bristol’s Teachers Rock Choir for your superb singing.”
He added:”Most importantly a massive thanks to my three gorgeous girls for being so understanding and supportive, without their support this could never have happened! And finally the biggest thank you to James for being just perfect.”
The aristocrat opened up about his sexuality in 2016 after a decades-long struggle.
