After the death of Edwina Mountbatten in 1960, Dickie still had another 19 years of living to do, and while he was single, he was in no way alone. He had romances with plenty of women in his later years, and according to many, he had male lovers – including, it is alleged, boys – as well.
A mentor to Prince Charles, his advice to the young man may have contributed to what turned into the tragic marriage, divorce, and untimely death of Princess Diana, who was exactly the sort of woman that Dickie encouraged the playboy prince to settle down with. The men remained close through the end of Dickie’s life, and Charles delivered the eulogy at both of Dickie’s services in 1979.
Dickie was clearly a charming older man who counted Shirley MacClaine, Barbara Cartland, Christina Ford, and Sacha Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn, who was also his god daughter, among his paramours. Let’s say it was all pretty complicated, but that would only be keeping with rest of his and Edwina’s history.
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Sources
The Mountbattens: Their Lives and Loves, by Andrew Lownie (Amazon.com)
Daughter of Empire: My Life as a Mountbatten, by Pamela Hicks (Amazon.com)
Grace Kelly Could Appear in ‘The Crown’ Season 4 at Lord Mountbatten’s Funeral (townandcountrymag.com)
‘The Crown’ Season 4 Might Feature Grace Kelly (harpersbazaar.com)
William Evans: Once a world nomad with Mountbatten, now struggling with heating | UK | News (express.co.uk)
