Lord Leopold Mountbatten

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Winchester Cathedral, memorial to Leopold (1889-1922) and Maurice (1981-1914) Battenberg Mountbatten

Lord Leopold Mountbatten (Leopold Arthur Louis; 21 May 1889 – 23 April 1922) was a British nobleman, a member of the House of Battenberg, and a descendant of Queen Victoria. He was born with the title of Prince Leopold of Battenberg but relinquished his German titles and took the surname Mountbatten during the First World War.

Early Life

Lord Leopold Mountbatten was born on 21 May 1889 at Windsor Castle, the youngest son of Prince Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom. His maternal grandparents were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was named after his uncle, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, who was also a hemophiliac.

Education

Leopold was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire, a prestigious independent school in England. He later attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he trained for a career in the British Army.

Military Career

Leopold was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1908. He served with distinction and was promoted to lieutenant in 1910. During the First World War, he served on the Western Front and was mentioned in despatches for his bravery.

Change of Name and Titles

In 1917, during the First World War, anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom led King George V to change the name of the royal house from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor. At the same time, Leopold and his family relinquished their German titles and adopted the surname Mountbatten. Leopold was subsequently styled as Lord Leopold Mountbatten.

Personal Life

Leopold suffered from hemophilia, a genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots. This condition was inherited from his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who was a carrier of the hemophilia gene. Despite his health challenges, Leopold was known for his cheerful disposition and active social life.

Death

Lord Leopold Mountbatten died on 23 April 1922 at the age of 32, following complications from a knee operation. He was buried in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore.

Legacy

Leopold's life was marked by his service to his country and his struggle with hemophilia. His legacy continues through the Mountbatten family, which remains an integral part of the British royal family.

Related Pages

• House of Battenberg
• Queen Victoria
• Prince Henry of Battenberg
• Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom
• First World War
• House of Windsor
• Hemophilia