Nicholas Knatchbull's mother, Lady Penelope, shared a close friendship with Prince Philip
Nicholas Knatchbull, King Charles's godson, has returned to his family's ancestral seat, sources have claimed.
After his father removed him from the family will, Mr Knatchbull has now been restored as heir to the Broadlands estate in Hampshire.
This is a Grade I-listed Palladian mansion surrounded by 620 acres of farmland, worth approximately £100million.
A source with knowledge of the family's affairs described the turnaround as "simply astonishing".
Mr Knatchbull was educated at Eton and even showed Prince William around when the future King arrived at the prestigious school.
As a boy, he holidayed with William, Harry and Princess Diana, and made appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
His late great-grandfather, Lord Louis Mountbatten, was so beloved by King Charles that the monarch referred to him as his "Honorary Grandfather."
Mr Knatchbull's mother, Lady Penelope, enjoyed such intimacy with the late Queen and Prince Philip that she was the sole friend permitted to attend the late Duke of Edinburgh's funeral during coronavirus restrictions.
Following a two-and-a-half-year engagement, he married Ambre Pouzet, a French alternative cabaret performer, at Broadlands in May 2021 in a civil ceremony.
By contrast, his sister Alexandra's 2016 wedding saw King Charles walking her down the aisle before the late Queen.
Mr Knatchbull and Ms Pouzet welcomed son, Alexander, in 2022 and daughter, Endora, last year.
Mr Knatchbull initially worked as a gardener on the estate, living first in a cottage near the boundary, then a converted barn, before finally moving into the main house approximately six months ago.
A source close to the family confirmed the restoration of his inheritance, telling the Mail: "It was decided to bring Nicholas back into the family because he's proved that he's a changed man. He's now married, has two children and has settled down a lot."
Another insider at Broadlands claimed: "We were recently told that he is now going to inherit the title of Earl Mountbatten and the estate after all."
His mother has particularly welcomed his return, as she had been managing the estate largely alone due to Lord Mountbatten's prolonged ill health. The couple have been separated since 2010.
