Charles: The grandfather I never had

On an emotional day visiting the village where his great-uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten was assassinated, Charles said time had been a healer for him but his grief gave him a deep understanding of the hurt of others.

“In August 1979, my much-loved great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was killed alongside his young grandson and my godson, Nicholas, and his friend, Paul Maxwell, and Nicholas’s grandmother, the Dowager Lady Brabourne.

“At the time I could not imagine how we would come to terms with the anguish of such a deep loss since, for me, Lord Mountbatten represented the grandfather I never had.

“So it seemed as if the foundations of all that we held dear in life had been torn apart irreparably.”

Charles made the remarks at The Model arts centre in Sligo ahead of a peace and reconciliation prayer service in nearby Drumcliffe and a poignant visit to Mullaghmore where the assassination was carried out.

The earl, who enjoyed summer holidays for decades at Classiebawn Castle, was blown up onboard the pleasure boat Shadow V after he set out from the harbour along the Atlantic coast to pick lobster pots and fish.

The other victims were Lady Doreen Brabourne, 83, the mother-in-law of Mountbatten’s daughter, who died a day later; Nicholas Knatchbull, the earl’s grandson who was 14; and his friend Paul Maxwell, a 15-year-old local boy from Killynure, Enniskillen, who had worked on preparing the royal boat for fishing.

Referring directly to the impact the murder had on him, Charles said: “Through this dreadful experience, though, I now understand in a profound way the agonies borne by so many others in these islands, of whatever faith, denomination or political tradition.”

Charles has previously referred to Lord Mountbatten in his journals as someone who was infinitely special, a confidante who showed enormous affection but also someone who criticised and praised.

“In some extraordinary way he combined grandfather, great-uncle, father, brother and friend,” he has said in the past.

Lord Mountbatten was admiral of the fleet in the Second World War and the last viceroy of India.

His murder happened on one of the bloodiest day of the Troubles.

As news of the royal assassination reverberated worldwide, 18 British soldiers were blown up in an IRA ambush which became known as the Narrow Water massacre.

The Prince made his speech as he began the second day of a four-day trip to the island of Ireland with the Duchess of Cornwall.

He also recalled the thousands of Irish soldiers who died fighting in the First World War and said the centenary commemorations of the fight against Germany provided common ground for Britain and Ireland.

“We all have regrets. As my mother said in Dublin Castle, ‘with the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we wish had been done differently or not at all’,” Charles said.

“I’m only too deeply aware of the long history of suffering which Ireland has endured, not just in recent decades but over the years of its history.

“It’s a history that I know has caused much pain and resentment in a world of imperfect human beings where it is always too easy to over-generalise and attribute blame.”

Mullaghmore has remained synonymous with IRA terrorism and the 30-year conflict since the attack.

Charles spoke about the peace and reconciliation service in Drumcliffe where WB Yeats is buried, and he recalled a verse by the poet who wrote “and I shall have some peace there, peace comes dropping slowly”.

The Prince added: “As a grandfather myself I pray that his words can apply to all those who have been so hurt and scarred by the troubles of the past so that all of us, all of us who inhabit these Atlantic islands, may leave our grandchildren a lasting legacy of peace, forgiveness and friendship.”

Charles said the Mountbattens still recall their summers in Classiebawn Castle and Mullaghmore from 1946-79 as times of great happiness.

He also paid tribute to the local people who helped in the rescue after the bombing and extended their support.

“Many of them showed the most extraordinary outpouring of compassion and support to both Lord Mountbatten’s and Paul Maxwell’s families in the aftermath of the bombing,” he said.

“Their loving kindness has done much to aid the healing process.”

The royal couple arrived in Mullaghmore at about 5pm to meet others affected by the IRA attack and those involved in the rescue.

Several hundred locals lined the seaside village.

Among those who greeted the prince was Peter McHugh, a lifelong resident of Mullaghmore and one of those most closely associated with efforts to rescue the Mountbatten party.

Last week he described how doors and other materials were used as makeshift stretchers to bring the dead and injured ashore.

The royals also met Kevin Henry, a retired Garda who was on security detail for Lord Mountbatten when the IRA struck.

He saw the aftermath of the huge bomb from the headland above the village.

Others included local couple Elizabeth and Richard Woodmartin who pulled Timothy Knatchbull from the water after his brother Nicholas suffered fatal injuries.

He accompanied Charles and Camilla on their short tour of Mullaghmore with his wife Isabella.

The Maxwell family, including father John and mother Mary Hornsy, met Charles privately in the Pier Head Hotel, where victims of the bombing were treated once on shore.