Why Prince Charles Believed This Relative Could Be ‘Ruthless With People’

Prince Charles forged a very close relationship with Lord Mountbatten. In fact, the future King saw his late relative as his biggest confidante.

Following his assassination on August 1979, Prince Charles gave a speech in front of 2,000 people at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The memorial service for Mountbatten took place almost four months after his demise.

“There was always a new challenge to be overcome, fresh projects to be set in motion, more opposition to be defeated – all of which were pursued with a relentless and almost irresistible single-mindedness of purpose. Although he could certainly be ruthless with people when the occasion demanded, his infectious enthusiasm, his sheer capacity for hard work, his wit made him an irresistible leader among men,” Prince Charles said.

When Mountbatten was still alive, he gave the future King pieces of advice especially with regards to his love life. When Prince Charles was still in his 20s, he consulted with Mountbatten on why he couldn’t find a suitable partner.

Mountbatten wrote a letter to Prince Charles where he gave him a piece of advice. “I believe, in a case like yours, the man should sow his wild oats and have as many affairs as he can before settling down but for a wife, he should choose a suitable, attractive and sweet-character girl before she met anyone else who she might fall for,” he wrote.

In the letter, Mountbatten also referenced Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s relationship. He told Prince Charles that Her Majesty never thought of anyone else after she met the Duke of Edinburgh when she was just 13 years old.

Mountbatten also tried to set up Prince Charles with his granddaughter Amanda Knatchbull. Prince Charles and Knatchbull dated each other briefly, but they eventually decided to call it quits.

Shortly after their split, Prince Charles received comfort from Princess Diana, and this made him believe that they were suited for each other.