{"id":25440,"date":"2022-11-09T12:56:40","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T11:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1734796"},"modified":"2022-11-09T13:37:55","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T12:37:55","slug":"who-was-leonora-knatchbull-and-who-plays-her-in-the-crown","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/who-was-leonora-knatchbull-and-who-plays-her-in-the-crown\/","title":{"rendered":"Who was Leonora Knatchbull and who plays her in The Crown?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The latest season of the Netflix royal drama The Crown<\/a> has a number of new characters.<\/p>\n

One of the major additions is Penelope \u201cPenny\u201d Knatchbull<\/a>, Lady Romsey (Natascha McElhone) who becomes a close friend to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Jonathan Pryce) following tragic circumstances in her personal life.<\/p>\n

The daughter-in-law to Philip\u2019s cousin, Penny must face the loss of her youngest daughter Leonora, and Philip helps her to channel her grief into new outlets \u2013 one of which is quite inspiring.<\/p>\n

However, who plays Leonora Knatchbull in The Crown and what happened to her in real life?<\/p>

Who was Leonora Knatchbull?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Leonora Knatchbull was the third and youngest child of Norton Knatchbull, Lord Romsey, and Penelope Knatchbull, Lady Romsey.<\/p>\n

Norton is the son of Patricia Edwina Victoria Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma and John Knatchbull, Baron Brabourne. Through his mother, Norton is the grandson of the late Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma and is therefore the cousin of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.<\/p>\n

Upon his mother\u2019s death in 2017, Norton became Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Penelope became Countess Mountbatten of Burma.<\/p>\n

Leonora Louise Marie Elizabeth Knatchbull was born on 25th June 1986 and played with a number of aristocratic and royal children, moving in similar circles to the royal family.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London for the Trooping the Colour ceremony, June 1991. Among them are Prince Andrew, the Duchess of York, Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 \u2013 1997), Princess Beatrice, Leonora Knatchbull (daughter of Lord Romsey) and Prince Harry.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jayne Fincher\/Princess Diana Archive\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

She was pictured on Buckingham Palace\u2019s balcony during the Trooping the Colour in 1991, standing in front of Diana, Princess of Wales in red.<\/p>\n

Sadly, the much-loved Leonora had a tragically short life and became ill with kidney cancer, dying at the age of five at St. Bartholomew\u2019s Hospital in London on 22nd October 1991.<\/p>\n

Leonora was buried at her family\u2019s estate of Broadlands near the town of Romsey.<\/p>\n

In 1994, Norton and Penelope Knatchbull set up Leonora Children\u2019s Cancer Fund<\/b> in memory of Leonora.<\/p>\n

The Duke of Edinburgh attended a reception to promote the charity in 1994.<\/p>\n

Who plays Leonora Knatchbull in The Crown?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Leonora Knatchbull is portrayed in The Crown season 5 episode 1 by child actress Clara Graham.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The second episode of the season, titled The System, portrays the funeral of Leonora Knatchbull and the grief felt by Lady Romsey over her daughter.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Natascha McElhone plays Leonora\u2019s mother Penelope \u201cPenny\u201d Knatchbull, Lady Romsey, throughout The Crown season 5.<\/p>\n