Prince Philip's cousin Countess Mountbatten of Burma has died

15 June 2017

Prince Philip's cousin Countess Mountbatten of Burma has died aged 93.

Countess Mountbatten of Burma and her husband

The Duke of Edinburgh's relative, who was also known as Patricia Knatchbull, tragically passed away at her home in Mersham, Kent, on Tuesday (13.06.17), and it is believed the royal was surrounded by her children.

A statement has been released by the Countess' grieving family, which has been obtained by The Telegraph Online, and reads: "Patricia Mountbatten died peacefully on Tuesday 13 June at her home in Mersham, Kent, surrounded by her children."

And Charles, the Prince of Wales, has spoken out about the loss of his "very special" late godmother, and he has admitted he is "deeply saddened" by the news of her death.

In a separate statement, the 68-year-old royal said: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of my very special godmother, Lady Mountbatten, whom I have known and loved ever since I can first remember. She played an extremely important part in my life and I shall miss her presence most dreadfully."

And it has been reported Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have shared their condolences with the family "privately".

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said: "[The Queen and Prince Philip] privately passed on their condolences".

Lady Mountbatten endured a difficult life as in 1979 she lost her father, Earl Mountbatten, and her 14-year-old son Nicholas Knatchbull when the IRA blew up the boat her family owned in CoSligo.

And the news of her child's death "utterly devastated" her.

Speaking previously about her loss, Lady Mountbatten - who also has Joanna, 62, Michael, 67, Philip, 55, Tim, 52, Lady Amanda Ellingworth, 59, and Norton, 69, with her late husband John Knatchbull, 7th Baron Brabourne - said: "As anyone whose child dies will know only too well, this news utterly devastated me.

"In fact, I was so overwhelmed by grief for Nicky, who was just on the threshold of his life, that I began to feel guilty that I was not able to grieve for my father, whom I really adored, in the same way. But the world was mourning him, and there was a comfort in knowing that.

"If you are bitter, it consumes you, your family and the people around you. It is corrosive. It destroys your normal life. If my father had survived, he would have felt the same."