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Prince Charles speaks of grief and healing since Mountbatten murder Prince Charles speaks of grief and healing since Mountbatten murder
(about 3 hours later)
Prince Charles has spoken of his personal grief over the murder of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten, but also of the healing of the relationship between Britain and Ireland.Prince Charles has spoken of his personal grief over the murder of his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten, but also of the healing of the relationship between Britain and Ireland.
He was speaking before a visit to the Irish village of Mullaghmore, where Mountbatten and three other people were killed by a Provisional IRA bomb 36 years ago.He was speaking before a visit to the Irish village of Mullaghmore, where Mountbatten and three other people were killed by a Provisional IRA bomb 36 years ago.
He told guests at an arts centre in Sligo: “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. He told guests at an arts centre in Sligo: “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.
“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.”“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.”
Mountbatten, who had been admiral of the fleet and the last viceroy of India, and was Prince Philip’s uncle, died instantly in the explosion aboard his fishing boat, Shadow V, on 27 August 1979 when he was 79. Mountbatten, who had been admiral of the fleet and the last viceroy of India, and was Prince Philip’s uncle, died in the explosion aboard his fishing boat, Shadow V, on 27 August 1979 when he was 79.
Also killed was his 14-year-old grandson, Nicholas Knatchbull, and 15-year-old schoolboy Paul Maxwell, from Killynure, Enniskillen, who was in the village for the summer earning money as a boat boy. Lady Brabourne, 83, the mother of Mountbatten’s son-in-law, John Brabourne, died later of her injuries.Also killed was his 14-year-old grandson, Nicholas Knatchbull, and 15-year-old schoolboy Paul Maxwell, from Killynure, Enniskillen, who was in the village for the summer earning money as a boat boy. Lady Brabourne, 83, the mother of Mountbatten’s son-in-law, John Brabourne, died later of her injuries.
Later on Wednesday the prince will meet local people, some of whom helped pull the bodies and the injured from the sea that day.
Charles told guests at the reception in Sligo: “Despite the tragedy of August 1979, the memories that Lord Mountbatten’s family have of Classiebawn Castle and Mullaghmore, going right back to 1946, are of great happiness. I look forward to seeing, at last, the place that he and they so loved and to meeting its inhabitants.Charles told guests at the reception in Sligo: “Despite the tragedy of August 1979, the memories that Lord Mountbatten’s family have of Classiebawn Castle and Mullaghmore, going right back to 1946, are of great happiness. I look forward to seeing, at last, the place that he and they so loved and to meeting its inhabitants.
“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. Their loving kindness has done much to aid the healing process.”“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. Their loving kindness has done much to aid the healing process.”
He also addressed the moves leading to reconciliation between the two nations. “We need no longer be victims of our difficult history with each other. Without glossing over the pain of the past, we can, I believe, integrate our history and memory in order to reap their subtle harvest of possibility.” He addressed the moves leading to reconciliation between the two nations. “We need no longer be victims of our difficult history with each other. Without glossing over the pain of the past, we can, I believe, integrate our history and memory in order to reap their subtle harvest of possibility.”
Speaking of his mother’s historic visit to Ireland four years ago, he added: “As my mother said at Dublin Castle, “with the benefit of historical hindsight, we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.” Later, the prince and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a religious service for peace and reconciliation at St Columba’s parish church in Drumcliffe.
Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan said he hoped the poignant Mullaghmore visit would bring “further healing as we all reflect on those dark moments across these islands that cast a shadow across cities and towns such as Belfast and Birmingham, Derry and Dublin, Warrenpoint and Warrington, as well as here in Sligo and nearby Enniskillen and Monaghan.” The couple were joined at the service by the teenage granddaughter of one of the victims of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, when the Parachute Regiment – of which the prince is colonel in chief – shot dead 13 unarmed civilians. Bethany McLoughlin was part of a choir that sang during the ecumenical religious service. Her grandfather, Gerard McKinney, was shot dead during the shooting in Derry’s Bogside.
“As you travel up the Sligo coast today to an ecumenical service of reconciliation at Drumcliff and onwards to beautiful Mullaghmore, you will see just why Lord Mountbatten loved the harbour and its community so much.” Among others who filed into the church was Timothy Knatchbull, who was also on Mountbatten’s boat with his brother Nicholas but survived the blast.
John Maxwell, the father of Paul, said he thought the service was “brilliant, very appropriate and very moving”.
Following the service, the former Irish president Mary McAleese described the prince’s speech in Sligo as “gracious, honest and heartfelt”. “I am very proud of Ireland today,” she said.
McAleese said the royal couple’s visit – following the Queen’s historic trip to Ireland four years ago – had created a “real, easy and relaxed relationship” between the British and Irish people.
The prince and the duchess visited the grave of the Irish poet WB Yeats, who was led to rest in the churchyard underneath Ben Bulben mountain about 10 miles south of Mullaghmore.
After planting a tree in memory of their visit, there was a lighter moment when artist Annie West presented the prince with a painting of the church, which is based on a site that has been a place of worship since 575 AD.
West and the prince were seen in an animated discussion for several minutes after he accepted the painting. She said they had discussed his love of the Goons comedy show and particularly his favourite comic, Spike Milligan.
“He couldn’t believe it when I told him that I was a member of the local Goons Appreciation Society and that we have a Spike Milligan festival in Sligo every April. I asked him if would he come to the festival next year and I hope he will think about it and come over again.” West said.