Lord Ivar Mountbatten became the first royal to come out as gay in 2016

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor’s godfather, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, has revealed the duo have a “texting” relationship.

Lord Ivar, who famously became the first extended member of the Royal Family to have a gay wedding in 2018, is a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Louise’s parents.

The royal couple are godparents to Lord Ivar’s daughter, Ella, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Penny Mountbatten.

In turn, Lord Ivar and Mrs Mountbatten are godparents to Lady Louise, 21, who is currently a student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Lord Ivar is also related to King Charles as the great-nephew of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s maternal uncle.

The 62-year-old has opened up about his close links to the Edinburghs in a new interview from his marital home in Devon, where he lives with his husband, James Coyle.

He said: “Edward and Sophie are clearly good friends, and quite often when Sophie comes down to Devon, she will stay here with us.

“She always used to stay at Bridwell, but she’s also stayed in the farmhouse. Then, in the winter, we go up and stay with them for weekends.

Royal Family relative lifts lid on Lady Louise Windsor’s ‘busy’ schedule: ‘We text a lot’| GETTY

“Lady Louise and I text a lot, but that’s about it. Young people are always very busy!”

Lord Ivar and Mr Coyle moved from Bridwell Park to the Devon cottage in September 2024.

Bridwell Park, also located in Devon, was purchased by Lord Ivar and his ex-wife in 1998, and it is where their three children, Ella, 29, Alexandra, 27, and Louise, 23, were raised.

Despite divorcing Mrs Mountbatten in 2011 and coming out as gay five years later, Lord Ivar continues to share a happy relationship with his family.

Ivar Mountbatten and James Coyle married in 2018 | INSTAGRAM: IVAR MOUNTBATTEN

He continued to tell Hello!: “Divorce is never much fun at the best of times, but we have always been good friends. We didn’t have any real differences.

“Penny knew I was gay; I told her before we got married, and I think she felt she could change me. Ultimately, she couldn’t, and I think she wanted something more than perhaps I could give her.

“As divorces go, it was relatively amicable. She has bought a farmhouse close by, and she gets on very well with James. Whenever I can’t find him, he’s likely to be having a cup of tea with Penny – probably bitching about me.”

Lord Ivar met his ex-wife in the early 1990s, with Mrs Mountbatten clarifying in 2002: “Ivar and I met at a dinner party in London.”

The former couple tied the knot on April 23, 1994, at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Clare, Suffolk, which was attended by Sophie, Prince Edward and Princess Margaret.

They separated in 2010 and divorced the following year, with Lord Ivar telling the Mail: “It is quite true that we see each other all the time and we really are the best of friends. I certainly haven’t got anyone else in my life and I don’t think Penny has either.”

He added: “Penny and I are always in touch because of the children. Because she only lives a couple of miles away the children can be with her part of the week and with me for the other part.”

Lord Ivar came out as gay in 2016, telling the same publication: “I am a lot happier now, though I am still not 100 per cent comfortable with being gay.

Prince Edward and Sophie attending Lord Ivar’s 1994 wedding to Penny Mountbatten | GETTY

“‘Coming out’ is such a funny phrase but it’s what I suppose I did in a rather roundabout way, emerging to a place I’m happy to be. I have struggled with my sexuality and in some ways I still do; it has been a real journey to reach this point.”

At the time his wedding to Mr Coyle was announced in 2018, Lord Ivar said: “Sophie and Edward know of our plans and are really excited for us.

“Sadly they can’t come to the wedding. Their diaries are arranged months in advance and they’re not around, but they adore James. Everyone adores him.”