Made in Chelsea star with links to royals set to follow in footsteps of Lord Mountbatten
Freddy's great-grandfather, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was known as "Uncle Dickie" by King Charles, whom the earl regarded as an "honorary grandson."
After a colourful start to his young life, including a reported kidnapping by gangsters while filming Made in Chelsea in Corsica, Freddy Knatchbull is turning over a new leaf.
The 20-year-old, hailing from one of England’s most prominent families, is set to join the Army Reserves, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, Lord Mountbatten.
Freddy’s role in the reserves could include a deployment to Poland to assist in patrolling Europe’s borders.
“I’m serving my country,” he said. “I’m really passionate about this and I also want to do a deployment in Poland in two years’ time, which is where you patrol borders. A short deployment is about six to nine months. I can’t wait.”
During a fitting for his Army Reserve interview at Gieves & Hawkes on Savile Row, which was aired on Made in Chelsea last week, Freddy was presented with a bespoke tailcoat made for Prince Philip when he was 16, paid for by Lord Mountbatten.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Reflecting on his family’s military legacy, Freddy said: “I’ve got a lot of family history in the armed forces. My great-grandfather was the Supreme Allied Commander in South East Asia for the Allied Forces. Big boots to fill.”
Chelsea-born and Radley-educated, Freddy comes from an aristocratic lineage intertwined with British royalty.
His great-grandfather, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was known as “Uncle Dickie” by King Charles, whom the earl regarded as an “honorary grandson.”
Lord Mountbatten was tragically killed by the IRA in 1979 while fishing with his family in Ireland.
Freddy’s ties to royalty also include his great-great-grandfather Prince Louis of Battenberg, a grandson of Queen Victoria and uncle to the late Prince Philip.
Freddy’s father, Philip Knatchbull, is the CEO of Curzon Cinemas, and his uncle, Norton (the current Earl Mountbatten), is married to Penny, famously a close friend of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The family’s ancestral home, Broadlands in Hampshire, holds historical significance and is a place Freddy occasionally visits. At his Chelsea home, a large portrait of Lord Mountbatten in naval uniform hangs prominently by the fireplace.
Freddy’s decision to join the military marks a surprising turn for the Made in Chelsea star, who shocked his family by signing up for the Channel 4 reality show, which chronicles the lives of affluent young adults.
Beyond his military ambitions, Freddy also revealed he is writing a children’s book, Pablo’s Birthday, inspired by his two French bulldogs. The story aims to help children navigate challenging times.
