A newly unearthed letter written by Prince Philip two days after the IRA assassination of Lord Louis Mountbatten in 1979 reveals the Duke's profound grief, bitterness, and hope for sanity to return to the organization responsible for the tragedy.
A poignant and revealing letter penned by Prince Philip in the wake of Lord Louis Mountbatten's assassination has surfaced 46 years later. The letter, written just two days after the tragic event on August 29, 1979, expresses the Duke's profound grief and bitterness over the loss of his uncle. Philip candidly admitted that the ordeal would have been less agonizing had Mountbatten's death been an accident or a natural occurrence.
However, the deliberate act of violence perpetrated by the Provisional IRA, who planted a bomb on Mountbatten's fishing boat, fueled an intense resentment within him.The letter, written on Windsor Castle letterhead and signed simply 'Philip', conveys the Duke's despair and anger towards the IRA. He expressed his disbelief that they could consider themselves civilized individuals capable of such a heinous act. Philip passionately hoped that the shock of Mountbatten's assassination would jolt some sanity back into the organization. Lord Mountbatten, Philip's maternal uncle and a second cousin of King George VI, was a revered figure in British history. He was a renowned naval commander who played a pivotal role during World War II and served as a mentor to both Philip and the then-Prince Charles. Tragically, his life was cut short while fishing at Mullaghmore, County Sligo, with his family. A radio-controlled bomb, planted on the boat the previous night, detonated from shore, killing Mountbatten instantly. His 14-year-old grandson, Nicholas Knatchbull, along with Mountbatten's mother-in-law, Doreen Knatchbull, and crew member Paul Maxwell, also perished in the blast. Five others sustained serious injuries.The IRA bombmaker responsible for the murders was Thomas McMahon, who served 20 years in prison before his release under the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This deeply personal letter from Prince Philip, now being sold by a private collector at RR Auction in Boston, offers a rare glimpse into the emotional turmoil he experienced following the loss of his beloved uncle. The letter's estimated value is £160, a modest sum for a historical document that reveals such raw and honest sentiments from a prominent figure. The sale, scheduled for February 13, is sure to attract considerable interest from collectors and historians alike, eager to possess a piece of history that captures the emotional impact of a pivotal event in Northern Ireland's troubled past
Prince Philip Lord Mountbatten IRA Assassination 1979 Letter Grief History Northern Ireland Troubles
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