As a Royalist, I had always wondered about the Mountbatten connection to the present royal family. Very interesting. Thank you.

George Donatus was the husband of Princess Cecile, Prince Philip's sister and his father was Prince Ernst of Hesse. Philip's grandmother was Princess Victoria of Hesse. Victoria and Ernst of Hesse were brother and sister and they were both children of Princess Alice who was the second daughter of Queen Victoria. Alice died in 1878, the first of Queen Victoria's nine children to die and Ernst was her only son to live to adulthood. Philip and Cecile were brother and sister and their mother was also named Alice who was the oldest daughter of Victoria of Hesse(she lived until 1950). So, Cecile and her husband George married and had three children. Cecile's grandmother Victoria and George's father Ernst were brother and sister they shared the same grandchildren together. I think that it was in 1936 or '37 that Cecile and George along with his mother and their children were killed in a plane crash in Europe. Ernst himself died a year later, heartbroken over the loss of his family. Prince Ernst of Hesse had a second son though who lived a lot longer until the 1960's or 70's at least. Also Ernst and Victoria's youngest sister was Alexandra, the wife of Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia who were murdered during the Russian revolution in 1918. I know that this is a long comment but I find it fascinating mixed-up part of European royal history. ( Also, King Charles III of England is Victoria of Hesse' great great grandson).

As always, an excellent and informative episode. I read somewhere that Alexander ('Drino') Mountbatten was quite the snob and was greatly upset by the loss of his princely title. Apparently, this caused much amusement within the Royal Family, including King George V and Queen Mary!

Thank you! This adds an interesting angle to the controversy early in Elizabeth II's reign about the name of the royal house. Prince Philip's complaint that he was the only man in Britain not allowed [at that time] to give his name to his children seems to have had some precedent in earlier generations of his family.

Utterly fascinating, Allan! What a history, short tho' it may be. Thank you!

Thank you for this. Isn’t it amazing that power can wipe away one’s past and build a new, almost fictitious one.?

Thank you! This video filled in so many blanks for me. I kinda sorta had an idea of the familial relationships, but this laid it out beautifully. It really shows the Anglification of the family in pretty much just one generation. The Mountbattens now are about as British as fish and chips! Thank you again for this very informative episode.

Very interesting to hear the history of the Battenbergs before the 20th century. Going off on a bit of a tangent here. The inheritance through Victoria's female descendants of the hemophilia gene fascinates me, particularly the granddaughters, the eventual Queen of Spain and Tsarina of Russia. I realize that they didn't really understand how it worked, but they knew female descendants of Victoria could pass it on to their sons. I have a hard time understanding why two such high ranking men as the King of Spain and the Tsar of Russia would choose to marry those women. Without Alexi's disease the Russian Revolution might not have happened the way it did.

Among other insights, this shows to me that greater social mobility was possible within the British class system, relative to its continental counterparts - at least as far as noble and royal classes, are concerned. It's a little surprising, since the UK is perceived as having had a very fixed and stratified social hierarchy. Anyway, thanks again for another excellent video, and greetings as always from rainy British Columbia.

So in my mind there are (or were) three related but distinct branches of the Mountbattens. The Carisbrooke Mountbattens, the Milford Haven Mountbattens, and the Edinburgh Mountbattens who are Prince Philip and his descendants.

Great video and I could actually keep up (barely!) I remember when Lord Mountbatten was killed, I believe in the 70’s? He was a favorite of the Prince of Wales, now, King Charles.

Just a few weeks ago made.some research about the 1st earl Mountbatten of Burma and some references about certain particular activities I found quite disturbing.

House of Battenberg/Mountbatten is similar to the previous social climbing House of Teck/Cambridge in which they both came from humble morganatic branch of german royal dynasties with personal style of serene highness; the Teck from House of Württemberg and the Battenberg from House of Hesse-Darmstadt. Both houses are the results of non-agnatic marriage to an ancestress with low-ranked nobility; the Teck from Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde and the Battenberg from Countess Julia Therese Salomea von Hauke. Both are maternally related to the British royal family; the Teck being descendants of King George III and the Battenberg being descendants of Queen Victoria. Both houses have two siblings married into the British royal descendants; Princess Victoria Mary of Teck later Queen Mary to Prince George, Duke of York later King George V) and Prince Alexander of Teck to Princess Alice of Albany. Prince Henry of Battenberg to Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom and Prince Louis of Battenberg to Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. They came to Britain as extended British royal family, naturalised and served in the British Army, renounced their germanic titles and replaced with British noble titles (marquess and earl) and even followed suit the Saxe-Coburg/Windsor in changing their germanic house names into English name; Teck to Cambridge and Battenberg to Mountbatten. Who knows later on their descendants became the monarch of the UK.

I went to an American high school in Wiesbaden, Germany. I wish I had discovered my passion for history earlier and took advantage of my living situation at that time by visiting more historical places. Now I'm 40 and I haven't been back to Europe since. Fingers crossed that I win the lottery one day so I can travel again.

Interesting - the Battenbergs/Mountbattens are a fascinating family

For all i know: LUDWIG IV was married to QUEEN VICTORIA's daughter ALICE. ALICE had children; ALEXANDRA the last tsarina of RUSSIA and VICTORIA- marchioness of milford haven. VICTORIA- marchioness of milford haven had a daughter whom she named ALICE, in honor of her mum who died. ALICE was married to ANDREW of greece and demark; both are parents of PRINCE PHILIP duke of edinburgh husband of the late QUEEN ELIZABETH II.

A connection now overlooked but one I emphasize when the need is called for.

You delivered a fascinating video. Thank you! 👍

From what I've read, the HRH granted to Prince Henry was only in effect in the United Kingdom. He was regarded as a Serene Highness everywhere else.

Thanks for an interesting overview of the Mountbatten Dynasty. Earl Mountbatten was obsessed with his family origins and was always conscious of the morganatic element hence his constant pushing for the Mountbatten name to be taken by the Royal Family. Further back doubt has been cast on the legitimacy of his grandfather. Prince Louis's naval career was not as distinguished as noted here as it was spent mostly onboard the Royal Yacht. His resignation in 1914 was blamed on his German origins but a series of naval failures in the early days of the war...Battle of Coronel...Flight of the Goeben etc...were all due partially to his failure and that of Churchill who kept his place as First Lord.

I always wondered how they were related! Thank you.😊

Thank you Allan. A very interesting insight into the family & there heritage.

Superb and utterly fascinating! Thank you for helping sort out the various family members and their associations with the British Royal Family.

The Mountbatten's are descendents of Princess Alice (QV's daughter (sister of Edward VII (QE2's great grandfather )Its funny how they are all related to the Mountbattens (Prince Philip), but it seems others are looked down on.

One of Prince Phillip’s sisters Cecile, married her first cousin once removed, Prince George Donatus of Hesse. He was the son of her mother Alice’s uncle Ernst, The Grand Duke of Hesse. His sister was Alexandra the last Empress of Russia.

Very interesting, thank you!

Thank you! I have been wanting to know etc. This helps clear up so much!

Excellent, succinct and deeply fascinating as always Allan. Many thanks for untangling the knot that is the history of the Battenbergs!

Still here Allan loving your stories. Take care everyone stay safe and blessings to all.

Just fascinating thank you Alan

Enjoyable short history. Thank you

Very informative video, I never knew how the relationship between the Mountbatten family and the British Royal family worked. Truly appreciate your work.

Thank you again. Your magazine is also excellent.

Wonderful episode ❤❤❤❤

We can see the RF still highly admires the Mountbatten line, they carry on a lot of the names like Beatrice, Eugenia, Louis.

Fascinating story, brilliantly told. Thank you.

My ancestors with the surname Morris (William Morris & all 8 of his sons fought to free us from England) have handed down first names, including William (obvs), George, Charles, Charlotte, Aloysius, Louis, Louise, Sara, Elizabeth , Lillian, Victoria, Anne, Alice, and there’s one Aquila. I was always told these were English names. We hail from Somerset. This is fabulous. Ty from the Appalachian Mountains where we all grew up British. ;-) ✌️🇺🇸

Very interesting. Love history from America

Always interesting, Allan. Regards to the family.

Thank you. Good explanation!

Nice vídeo, Allan

Thank you for another video packed with information, and as usual some wonderful photographs. I'm not sure if this is the right place to say it, but regardless of one's attitude to the aristocracy. the murder of Lord Mountbatten was one of the worst political acts of the twentieth century. I remember so clearly his funeral and the hymn 'For those in peril on the sea.' So moving.

fascinating

You and Mark Felton are the GOATs

I am going to have to listen to this again with pen and paper in hand.

Thank you for telling their story

Hi Allan! The Mountbatten family certainly took a circuitous route to their present place in British life. Blessings to you and yours!

Excellent video and information!

Hello Allen. Hope you are well. Not seen an update from you recently. Take care and blessings to you and yours, R

Excellent !!! 😊

Excellent...thank you so much 👏👏👏➕❣🌹

Loius Mountbatten. Britain's very own Kurt von Schricher

Very interesting.

That was cool.

Thank you. This cleared up a lot of confusion between the branches of the Mountbatten family.. Thank you. ❤❤❤

The 1917 name change didn't apply with Victoria Eugenia and her sons and daughters, since they are descendents through female line and members of other royal house like spanish Borbon, thus their first surname was Borbon like their father Alfonso XIII, but kept Battenberg as their second surname, this included the actual king Felipe VI grandfather, Juan whose name was Juan de Borbon y Battenberg, and its via a Victoria Eugenie, a Battenberg/Mountbatten that the Spanish Borbon have their connection to the british royals family . Ironically Juan and his son, King Juan Carlos (and also grandson Felipe) were also sailors, with Juan also serving in the royal navy (retiring in 1936 due he didnt wanted to be a naturalised british citizen, due to him becoming heir of his deposed father Alfonso XIII) , and his son and grandson serving in the spanish navy, just keen on the seas like their distant british Mountbatten cousins.

Me encantan estas historias Británicas - Alemanas. ❤

What a fascinating history. I live in Romsey and so am familiar with the Mountbatten story. Lord Louis was often seen around the town until his murder by the IRA. His last resting place is Romsey Abbey.The family home, Broadlands was inherited by Edwina, Lord Louis's wife and bears the cypher M of B (Mountbatten of Burma)on it's gates.I sometimes reflect that this could be reversed to B of M (Battenberg of Myanmar)to reflect modern thinking. Broadlands is currently occupied by Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten and his wife Lady Penelope.

Very interesting. I did enjoy their cake before diabetes came along.

I live in Mountbatten Gardens in Bournemouth.

Interesting i knew they where German and had to change their name like the royal family did

I find this all fascinating! I have a question. Is the Prince Ludwig the same "Mad Prince Ludwig" that built the castle Neuswanstein? Also, I remember reading that King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, could have married Wallis and kept his title as King, had he been willing to have a morganatic marriage. I didn't realize until your video that the morganatic marriage was intended to belittle the spouse. It makes more sense to me now that he refused the possibility so vehemently.

I stayed in the Mountbatten house in India

❤

I thought this was very good. Maybe next one will trace the death of Lord Mountbatten and why Prince Philip was not the King of Greece. Very interesting!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Well. Her title might have started out as a slure in her face but her descendants most certainly had the last laugh. They are sittings on the British throne

I only know that Prince Philip and the Queen were both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Queen Liz's ancestor was Vic's second child, Ed, and the king following Vic. Philip's ancestor was Vic's third child, a daughter, Alice. (Vic's first child was of course the last German emperor's, Will II., mother, Vicky.)

Confusing without a graphic line of descent, but was fascinating nonetheless.

❤💞👍👏

The current Marquis is a really fine helicopter pilot.

Confining....perhaps stifling....

Unfortunately the map shows Hessen (1945-today) and not the Grand Duchy of Hesse (1806-1918). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Hesse

" serene highness" isn't too bad.

BUNA SEARA DIN ROMANIA VA SALUTA REGINA MARIA A ROMANIEI SI A RUSIEI .

Daca nu erau oameni cu o personalutate puternica inascuta ,infatisare exceptionala si mult ,mult curaj ,bun -simt , maniere si educatie ,nu ar fi reusit !Se va mai vorbi mult timp despre ei !

Hauke Pronounced "How-ker" according to the tour guides at Broadlands

And here, I just thought that Royal had to marry Royal regardless of title, except that the woman couldn't outrank the husband= but I was certainly wrong. It might have been fine in the Old Germany when there were about 150 little Duchys or Kingdoms-Hesse itself had 3 I believe, at least for a while until the 3rd line ran out. With so many little areas, it must have been fairly easy to find someone of like title but in other areas and with people having so many children it makes ones head spin.

Prince George of Greece, mother was Sophia of Germany-The Kaiser's sister.

Grace Kelly was also in the same situation and yet her son went on to rule

7:55 historical hottie

Victoria Eugenie Of Battenberg Became The Queen Consort Of Spain When She Married King Alfonso XIII Of Spain. Her Paternal Grandmother Was Countess Julia Von Haulk,Her Father Was Prince Henry Of Battenberg.

Prince Alexander of Hesse was most likely not fathered by his mother's husband, the Grand Duke.

It was obvious where Prince Louis’ name came from, but now I know where Beatrice and Eugenie came from, too. It must be awful to have to name one’s children with family names from a century ago.

Little known fact: The Mountbattens = Battenbergs started the Batten Burger chain.The Windsors aka Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Consort of Queen Victoria Prince Albert’s family name. Queen Victoria was a Hanoverian and started Victoria’s Secret. . Bucket Heads all. 😅

Just goes to show 'you can be in the Pink' by having your cake and eating it! 😂

Did they make bat and ball 🏏 sports?

Duke of Windsor tried to purpose that type of marriage of Wallace Simpson to House of Commons. Rejected

I don't mind a monarchy as long as it is just..

"restored"

Morganatic marriages went both ways, no? They were suggesting it to Princess Margaret when she wanted to marry her father's equerry.

Να τα μεταφράζεται και στα Ελληνικα ,!

As the German language has no silent letters wouldn't the surname Hauke have 2 syllables and not one? Horkeh not Hawk!

As so happens to male of lesser

I've seen it suggested that Lord Mountbatten's relentless ambition to get to the top was at least partly due to his desire to repair his father's distress at being forced to resign as First Sea Lord and change his family name, which may have led to his relatively early death. Of course, Lord Mountbatten succeeded in spades, as not only did he rise to his father's old post of First Sea Lord, but his nephew married the heir to the throne and became effectively a prince consort to HM Queen Elizabeth II (though not taking that title). And because in the UK monarchy the name of the royal House comes from the father, Mountatten gave his name to the current king. Queen Elizabeth was the last monarch of the House of Windsor (until 1917 known as the House of Saxe-Cobourg), and now King Charles III is the first monarch of the House of Mountbatten-Windsor. (Actually, Prince Philip had a very complicated family name, but it was decided that Mountbatten-Windsor would be simpler).

They need to bring back morganatic marriages to keep the the lower orders in their place.

They were second raters who pushed their way into our Royal family

Spoiler alert: The House of Windsor IS the House of Mountbatten.

Queen Victoria’s cousin the Duke of Cambridge married an actress and she & her children did not become HRH. And Queen Victoria refused to meet her cousins wife or children.

You dont explain how the title Earl Mountbatten of Burma was able to continue bearing in mind... Lord Louis of Mounbatten only having two daughers and no sons... Yet his Grandson Norton, is the current Earl Mountbatten of Burma? How So?