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As a result of his father’s new status, Mountbatten too lost his Princely title and assumed the courtesy title of a younger son of a Marquess and became styled “Lord Louis Mountbatten”. Mountbatten’s father was staying with his eldest son during his transition from German Prince to a Peer of the Realm, and famously wrote in the guest-Book -

“Arrived Prince Hyde. Departed Lord Jekyll.”

The Battenberg family were “victims” of the Royal Proclamation of 17th July 1917, when HM King George V (1865(1910-1936) – in response to anti-German attacks against the dynastic German Royal Family of Britain, and declared that members of the Royal Family and extended family would cease to use their inherited German styles and titles and use the family name of WINDSOR instead of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. Mountbatten’s father relinquished his Princely status and decided (after much debate) to adopt the surname of MOUNTBATTEN – a literal Anglicized translation of Battenberg, and was created a Peer of the Realm – taking the title “Marquess of Milford Haven, Earl of Medina and Viscount Alderney”.

Louis,
1st Marquess of Milford Haven
(1854-1921)
(Mountbatten’s father)

By 1920, Mountbatten had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and accompanied his cousin “David” – HRH The Prince of Wales (subsequently HM King Edward VIII (1894(1936)1972) and later HRH The Duke of Windsor), on board HMS Renown on his tours to Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and the Far East. He was soon able to return to his ship – HMS Repulse and was joined by his illustrious father (who was now an Admiral of the Fleet) for an impromptu cruise up to Invergordon. Sadly Mountbatten’s father – who had last set foot on a Dreadnought ten years ago, caught a chill and despite showing signs of recovery, Mountbatten’s father took to his bed at his club – the Naval & Military Club, off Piccadilly, London and died on 11th September 1921.

HRH The Prince of Wales
(later HM King Edward VIII)
(1894(1936)1972) with Mountbatten

By this time Mountbatten had met a leading member of London society – The Hon. Edwina Ashley, the daughter of Colonel Wilfrid Ashley, MP, later 1st Lord Mount Temple (1867-1939), who in 1921 following the death of her grandfather (The Rt Hon. Sir Ernest Cassel, GCB, GCMG, GCVO (1852-1921)) had inherited £2 million and amongst other properties - the country seat of Broadlands in Romsey, Hampshire. Whilst touring India with HRH the Prince of Wales, Mountbatten wrote to Edwina throughout and at his request she engineered a way to stay with the then Viceroy at the Viceregal Lodge in Delhi. On 14th February 1922 there was a dance at the Viceregal Lodge and Mountbatten wrote “I danced 1 and 2 with Edwina. She had 3 and 4 with David (sic. The Prince of Wales) and the fifth dance we sat out in her sitting room, when I asked her if she would marry me, and she said she would.” Mountbatten later said “in India, I found three loves… the first, India herself… the second, polo… And finally, my real love.”

The Hon. Edwina Ashley
(later Mountbatten’s wife)

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