Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Countess Mountbatten of Burma
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Knatchbull in 1941
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Hereditary peerage 27 August 1979 – 11 November 1999 |
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| Preceded by | The 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patricia Edwina Victoria Mountbatten
14 February 1924 Westminster, London, England |
| Died | 13 June 2017 (aged 93) Mersham, Kent, England |
| Spouse |
John Knatchbull, 7th Baron Brabourne
(m. 1946; died 2005) |
| Children | Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma The Hon. Michael-John Knatchbull The Hon. Anthony Knatchbull Lady Joanna Knatchbull Lady Amanda Ellingworth The Hon. Philip Knatchbull The Hon. Nicholas Knatchbull The Hon. Timothy Knatchbull |
| Parents | Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma Edwina Ashley |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank | Third Officer |
| Unit | Women's Royal Naval Service |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
Patricia Edwina Victoria Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (born 14 February 1924 – died 13 June 2017) was an important British noblewoman. She was a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Patricia was the elder daughter of Lord Mountbatten, a famous admiral, and Edwina Ashley. She was also the sister of Lady Pamela Hicks and a cousin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Patricia was a godmother to King Charles III and a great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Lady Mountbatten became a countess after her father was sadly killed in 1979. She inherited his special titles, which allowed his daughters to take over. This meant she became a countess and got a seat in the House of Lords. She stayed there until 1999, when new rules removed most hereditary nobles from the House.
Marriage and Family Life
On 26 October 1946, Patricia married John Knatchbull, 7th Baron Brabourne. He was helping her father in the Far East at the time. They had met when Patricia was serving in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War II. Their wedding took place at Romsey Abbey, with members of the Royal Family attending.
Patricia and John were one of the few married couples where both held noble titles in their own right. Their children inherited titles from both sides of the family. They had eight children:
- Norton Louis Philip Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma (born 1947)
- The Hon. Michael-John Ulick Knatchbull (born 1950)
- The Hon. Anthony Knatchbull (born and died 1952)
- Lady Joanna Edwina Doreen Knatchbull (born 1955)
- Lady Amanda Patricia Victoria Knatchbull (born 1957)
- The Hon. Philip Wyndham Ashley Knatchbull (born 1961)
- The Hon. Nicholas Timothy Charles Knatchbull (1964–1979)
- The Hon. Timothy Nicholas Sean Knatchbull (born 1964)
In 1979, a terrible event occurred. Patricia, her husband, and their sons Nicholas and Timothy were on a boat. The boat was attacked by the IRA off the coast of Ireland. Her 14-year-old son Nicholas, her father, her mother-in-law, and a 15-year-old boy named Paul Maxwell were killed. Patricia, her husband, and their son Timothy were injured but survived.
After this tragedy, Patricia became a patron and later president of The Compassionate Friends. This is a charity that helps parents who have lost a child.
Patricia's Public Service
Patricia went to school in Malta, England, and New York City. In 1943, when she was 19, she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service. She worked in different bases in Britain during World War II. In 1945, she became an officer and served in South East Asia.
She was also involved in many other important roles. In 1973, she became a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent. She was a magistrate, which means she helped with legal matters. Patricia also supported many service organizations, like SOS Children's Villages UK.
In 1974, she became the Colonel-in-Chief of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. This is a Canadian army regiment. Even though she became a countess later, she preferred the soldiers to call her Lady Patricia. She held this role until 2007. In 2007, she received the Canadian Meritorious Service Cross for her dedication to the regiment.
In 2012, Patricia supported Queen Elizabeth II meeting with Martin McGuinness. He had been a member of the IRA. Patricia said she was "hugely grateful" that they could move forward positively. She also helped unveil a memorial at Hayling Island in Hampshire.
Death and Funeral
Countess Mountbatten passed away at her home in Mersham, Kent, in 2017. She was 93 years old. Her funeral service was held at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of the royal family attended. Soldiers from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry carried her casket. She was buried in the Knatchbull family plot in Mersham churchyard.
See also
In Spanish: Patricia Mountbatten para niños
