The husband of the first royal to have a same-sex marriage praised his ex-wife for being 'so kind' in ITV's new programme Keeping Up With The Aristocrats.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten appeared on the show with his husband of three years, James Coyle.
In the new three-part series, four of Britain's most prominent aristocratic dynasties have given cameras access to reveal what really goes on behind their closed doors, over one summer’s social season.
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The first episode introduced us to Lord Ivar and husband, James, who hosted their first ever pop-up restaurant at their stately home of Bridwell in Devon, with the help of Michelin-starred chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.
Lord Ivar is a third cousin, once removed, of Queen Elizabeth II. Ivar's father was also a first cousin to Prince Philip..
Ivar is the first member of the British monarch’s extended family to have a same-sex wedding and be openly in a same-sex relationship.
He was married to Penelope Anne Vere Thompson - known as Penny - with whom he has three daughters, Ella, Alex, and Louise.
"I'd lived with a woman for 17 years and then all of a sudden not having a woman on my side but a man was quite a big step," Ivar said on the show.
“I was very apprehensive before I told the girls, they had this image of their father being whatever normal is, a normal family, and all of a sudden your father is not the person you thought they were."
Penny and their three daughters also appeared on the show, visiting Ivar and James at their home, Bridwell Park in Devon - which has an ornamental lake, deer park, Gothic chapel and over 100 windows.
"There's been a lot of growth and acceptance and understanding involved. It's all worked out the way it should have been," Penny said as she appeared on the show.
James said to Penny: “Because you were so kind to me right from the start it just made everything so much easier."
Ivar lived with Penny for 17 years before they separated in 2010 and amicably divorced in 2011. In 2016, he revealed he was in a relationship with James, whom he met at a ski resort in Verbier.
Lord Ivar married James in 2018, in a private ceremony at Bridwell Park, with Penny walking him down the aisle.
He described them as a “big, blended family” on the show.
The couple opened their home to 50 fine-diners to eat at the pop-up restaurant, with Penny and their daughters their to lend their support.
"As a team, they can really make this place work," Penny said of Ivar and James after the event.
The show also introduced us to Princess Olga Romanoff, Alexandra Sitwell and husband Rick, and Lord and Lady Fitzalan- Howard.
Keeping Up With The Aristocrats will be back next Monday at 9pm on ITV.
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