Prince Philip’s cousin Lord Ivar Mountbatten shares late Duke’s supportive words after coming out as gay

In a heartfelt revelation, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of the late Prince Philip, has shared the kind and accepting words the Duke of Edinburgh offered upon learning of his relative’s sexuality.

Speaking on the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth, Lord Ivar recounted his surprise when Brandreth mentioned to Prince Philip that Ivar had come out as gay. The Duke’s response was simple yet profound: “Whatever makes him happy.” Lord Ivar described the late royal as “very tolerant,” adding with a chuckle, “But then he was a sailor.” 

Lord Ivar Mountbatten made history in 2016 when he became the first member of the extended British royal family to publicly come out as gay. Two years later, he married his partner James Coyle in a ceremony that was notably attended and supported by his ex-wife Penny, who gave him away.

Reflecting on his journey, Lord Ivar said that being a Mountbatten was never the issue - it was the era in which he 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,” he shared.

In recent years, Lord Ivar has embraced public life more openly, including winning Season 3 of The Traitors US in 2025.