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NORTON, 8th LORD BRABOURNE

The Hon. Sir Norton Louis Philip KNATCHBULL, Bt., 8th Lord Brabourne - was born on 8th October 1947 at King’s College Hospital, London. He is the eldest son of The Lady Patricia Edwina Victoria KNATCHBULL (née MOUNTBATTEN) CBE, MSC, CD, JP, DL, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (b.1924) and the late Sir John Ulick KNATCHBULL, Bt., CBE, 7th Lord Brabourne (1924-2005), and as such is heir to the Earldom of “Mountbatten of Burma”.

Until the death of his father - when Norton succeeded to his father’s Barony, he was styled “Lord Romsey”. Norton is a god-son of Admiral of the Fleet HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM, GBE, AC, QSO, PC (b.1921) and as a direct descendant of HM Queen Victoria (1819(1837-1901), he is currently 456th in the line of succession to the British Throne.

Norton, 8th Lord Brabourne
(b.1947)

Norton married Miss Penelope Eastwood (b.1953) on 20th October 1979 at Romsey Abbey, Romsey - a few months after the assassination of his illustrious grandfather, Mountbatten. Although Norton was not with his grandfather on that fateful day in August 1979, the events were to change his life forever. His parents (who were seriously wounded in the explosion that killed Mountbatten) were forced to attend the wedding ceremony in wheelchairs. The best man at the wedding was Norton’s close friend (and cousin) - Admiral HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, CD, PC, ADC(P) (b.1948). Due to the combined interest of Royalty and the events in Mullaghmore, the wedding certainly ensured a great deal of press attention. “Tatler” magazine listed the wedding in their top 100 most notable weddings of the 20th Century.

Norton, 8th Lord Brabourne (then Lord Romsey) with his wife, Penelope Eastwood

The Brabournes have had three children -

The Hon. Nicholas Louis Charles Norton KNATCHBULL (born 15th May 1981), god-son of Admiral HRH The Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, CD, PC, ADC(P) (b.1948).

The Hon. Alexandra Victoria Edwina Diana KNATCHBULL (born 5th December 1982) - a god-daughter of the late Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997).

The Hon. Leonora Louise Marie Elizabeth KNATCHBULL (born 25th June 1986 and died 22nd October 1991). She died after a one-year battle against a kidney tumour, at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, at the age of 5. She was buried on 26 October 1991 at Romsey Abbey. The Leonora Children's Cancer Fund was set up in her memory.

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