While his royal ties are intriguing, many are equally curious about his personal life, including his husband and children.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten is married to James Coyle, a former airline cabin services director. Their love story began in 2015 when they met by chance at a bar in the Swiss resort of Verbier. According to the Daily Mail, James mistook Lord Ivar for a ski guide he had met previously, sparking a conversation that led to their eventual romance. Perhaps it was fate!
By 2016, Lord Ivar publicly shared the news of his relationship with James, marking a significant moment in his life. "Being a Mountbatten was never the problem," he explained at the time. "It was the generation into which I was born. When I was growing up, it was known as 'the love that dare not speak its name.' But what's amazing now is how far we have all come in terms of acceptance," per the Daily Mail.
Before his marriage to James, Lord Ivar was married to Penelope "Penny" Anne Vere Thompson. The couple, who share several daughters (more on that below), divorced in 2011 after 17 years of marriage. Reflecting on his personal journey, Lord Ivar has admitted, "I've struggled with my sexuality, and in some ways, I still do. It has been a real journey to reach this point."
Being connected to the British Royal Family is a big deal on its own, but Lord Ivar's love story carries even more significance -- he's the first member of the extended Royal Family to publicly come out as gay.
Until September 2024, Lord Ivar and James lived on the Bridwell Estate, where they opened the Orangery Café to the public. Lord Ivar had moved into the estate in 1997. On Sept. 8, he announced on Instagram that they were just days away from handing over the keys to its new owners.
Reflecting on the experience, she admitted, "I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a bit of a shock at first," adding, "I was used to my father being with a woman and married to my mother. I never envisaged this outcome. However, as long as he's happy, I don't mind who he loves. That's all you want for your parents, isn't it? Their happiness."
In addition to support from his daughters, Lord Ivar's ex-wife, Penny, has also shown her acceptance and support for him and James. During an interview with Prime Video's Attitude Magazine, Penny shared, "Ivar and James's wedding was the most fantastic day -- much better than Ivar and my wedding, I've got to say. It was so joyful."