When it comes to airing family grievances, Lord Ivar Mountbatten appears to be following a path not unlike Prince Harry’s.
The 62-year-old, who made history as the first member of the extended Royal Family to enter a same-sex union back in 2018, has sparked headlines with an unusually candid interview about his family.
Lord Ivar openly admits he doesn’t get along with his mother, the Marchioness of Milford Haven, describing her as “lazy.”
The revelation is particularly striking given that she is 87 and increasingly frail.
Childhood Memories and Family Friction
Reflecting on his upbringing, Lord Ivar explained, “My mother never looked after us at all.
We were brought up by a German nanny and shuffled around from place to place, which was fine.
But what annoyed my brother George and me was her lack of interest in family gatherings.
Whenever we invited her for Christmas or a weekend visit, her stock answer was that she ‘couldn’t be bothered’—all because she didn’t know how to pack a suitcase.”
Speaking on the Rosebud Podcast, Lord Ivar added, “There’s no affection between my mother and me.
She’s been bedridden since 2018, and it’s purely laziness.
That sort of irritated my brother and me, and we ended up having to handle everything for her.”
Caring for His Mother During the Pandemic
Lord Ivar, married to air cabin services director James Coyle, shared a story from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We thought we ought to bring her down from London because she had a string of carers and the risk of Covid was high.
We even brought her furniture, and she accused James of stealing her TV,” he revealed.
Royal Holidays and Family Fun
Meanwhile, royal family life continues in other corners.
Princess Beatrice’s stepson, Christopher—affectionately known as “Wolfie”—is set to enjoy a holiday at Balmoral, joining Bea and his father Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
A family friend says the nine-year-old will enjoy outdoor adventures like wild swimming and cycling.
Wolfie has already traveled abroad with his mother, Dara Huang, a US-born architect and TV presenter.
Celebrity Anecdotes from the Royal Circle
Ballet star Wayne Sleep recently shared a memory of introducing his boyfriend, Jose Bergara, to the late Princess Margaret.
Sleep recounted a humorous moment when his attempt to replace Bergara’s Doc Martens with slip-on shoes was met with the princess’s charming reply about a previous dance partner in spurs.
Anna Foster’s Seaside Encounter
Radio 4 presenter Anna Foster also made headlines, albeit in a lighter way. While enjoying a seaside day, she was “brutally attacked” by a seagull that knocked her ice cream to the ground. Responding to colleague Jonny Diamond’s jokes about coastal birds stealing food, Foster said, “It was horrible. I will never stop talking about it.”
Max Fosh’s Royal Football Experience
Comedian Max Fosh got an unexpected taste of royal life while visiting friends near Sandringham. He described playing football with Prince William and Prince Harry, noting that Harry was a naturally better player, while William complimented him on having “a wand of a left foot.” Fosh laughed at being called offside by Harry, unsure how to respond.
Mariella Frostrup Celebrates Mature Bikini Life
At 62, broadcaster Mariella Frostrup is proving that age doesn’t mean giving up bikinis. Posting a joyful beach photo with friend Fiona Howden, she wrote, “The pure unadulterated joy of finding an equally reckless mature bikini wearer on the beach.” Mariella has two children with human rights lawyer Jason McCue and continues to embrace the mantra: flaunt it, regardless of age.
Spencer Matthews Faces Citizenship Roadblocks
Finally, reality star Spencer Matthews is navigating a hiccup with Irish citizenship. While his wife, Vogue Williams, confirmed that their three children received Irish passports, Spencer, 37, was denied. Vogue shared, “I like to take the kids home as much as I can – I want them to have friends in Ireland, so that they always want to go back. They got the free Irish passports. They wouldn’t give Spenny one, and he was raging.”
