Mountbatten, known as “Dickie” to family and friends, was born Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas on 25 July 1900 at Frogmore House, Windsor. His parents were Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse.

Early Life

He fell in love with his cousin Grand Duchess Marie when he was 13. Mountbatten was determined to marry her. (Years later, Mountbatten denounced imposters claiming to be her sister Anastasia.) He kept Marie’s photograph by his bedside until he died.

His education included home-schooling until he was ten, Locker’s Park Preparatory School, then he enrolled as a cadet at the Royal Naval College at Osborne on the Isle of Wight.