A family friend said: Its very unusual to be given away by someone else at your wedding, even if it is by the Prince of Wales. She never betrayed him. A TV insider last year said: The highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by the Queen or the rest of the Royal Family.. Prince Philip's relationship with aristocrat Penny Knatchbull, which reportedly raised some eyebrows in the 1990s, will get the Netflix treatment. She was 32 years young than he was, but they developed a close friendship over the years, bonding over their love of outdoor activities and all things equestrian.. Powered by. As for Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce), he develops a close friendship with family friend Penny Knatchbull while experiencing his own marital troubles with the queen. The event being dubbed the Wedding of the Year with over 900 guests in attendance from almost all of Europes leading families. Penny and Philip met in 1974 and hit it off immediately despite their 32-year age difference, becoming closer when Pennys daughter sadly died of kidney cancer in 1991. The royal family attended, and Prince Charles, the groom's second cousin, even served as best man. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Lady Penelope (Penny) Romsey arrive at the Guards Polo Club on June 1, 1975 in Windsor, England. Philip, having dealt with his own fair share of grief, helps Knatchbull get her mind off the tragic death, encouraging her to take up his beloved sport of carriage driving and engaging her in spirited philosophical conversations. While not among the nobility, the Eastwoods did have a claim to a certain position in British culture. Queen Elizabeth and Penny chat at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2001. In May last year, tattooed Nicholas, 40, a music producer and gardener, married Ambre Pouzet, a French former fire-eating mermaid performer. In the first episode of season 4, Lord Mountbatten was blown up on a fishing boat by the Irish Republican Army (the IRA). Educated in Switzerland, and with a business degree from the London School of Economics, friends describe her as being outgoing, engaged, clever and well-read. Her full name and title are Penelope, Countess Mountbatten of Burma. The relationship between Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip is causing controversy due to the new season of " The Crown." Their friendship will be featured in the fifth season of "The. There was never any question she would leave Broadlands, where every day she visits the tall stone monument, about 100 yards from the house, which stands above her daughter Leonoras grave. She has also been known as Lady Romsey and Lady Brabourne, as well as the High Steward of Romsey. Only a handful of locations remain open, and the chain's future was in serious doubt as of 2021. What does a purple poppy mean and where can I buy one for Remembrance Day? Philip and Penny are said to have first met when she was dating her husband-to-be aged 20. There was never any question she would leave Broadlands, where every day she visits the tall stone monument, about 100 yards from the house, which stands above her daughter Leonoras grave. Speculation generated by The Crown that Knatchbull had an affair with the Duke of Edinburgh is just that; there is no proof of a romantic or sexual entanglement. The now-Countess Penny is believed to have visited him regularly at his retirement cottage at Sandringham before his death, according to the Daily Beast. Penny's friendship with Prince Philip unfolded after her daughter's death, Seward wrote in Prince Philip Revealed, per Today. Philip always was a flirt and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten affectionately known by the royals as Uncle Dickie was assassinated by the IRA. But it was after Pennys five-year-old daughter Leonora died of kidney cancer in 1991 that Philip really began to take her under his wing. The Independent quoted him as answering one such question with, "Good god, woman! While Penny Knatchbull, now 69, has not addressed the portrayal herself, a close friend reportedly told The Telegraph before the new season aired, "This is indeed an ill-judged, unnecessarily. Coming just weeks after the nation laid Her Majesty to rest next to Prince Philip, this is very distasteful and, quite frankly, cruel rubbish, Dickie Arbiter, the queen's former press secretary, told The Sun. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Apparently, the intimate scenes involve touching hands as he divulges details of his marriage and well actively see them pursuing an affair.. The house, which formerly belonged to Lord Mountbatten, is to be re-opened to the public. Their companionship continued for years, with Lady Penny seen with Prince Philip and the Queen at Sandringham, horse shows, and other royal events. In 1979, five years after first meeting Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, Penelope Eastwood became Penelope Knatchbull when she married Norton Knatchbull, Philip's godson and King Charles III's second cousin, according toHarper's Bazaar. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. And one more thing connects the couple to the royal family: their house. Alexandra, a financial analyst known as Knatch, chose to marry Thomas Hooper, an entrepreneur, on what would have been her sister Leonoras 30th birthday. Here they are driving around Windsor together in 2019: Royal expert Ingrid Seward writes in The Sun that Pennys marriage hit rock bottom at the time and she was left to maintain their family home: Running royal properties was something Philip knew full well, and having bonded with her over horses and carriage driving, their friendship blossomed further. She also appeared at. Penny was introduced to Philip at age 20 while dating husband-to-be Norton Knatchbull, Philips godson and grandson of the dukes uncle Lord Mountbatten. She is one of 30 mourners present, including immediate family members. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. Indeed, she has been so much a part of royal life, household staff nicknamed her And Also, because whenever Philip listed guests who were to be invited to a royal do, he would end with and also Penny. Three weeks after the accident, which Philip blamed on him being blinded by the low winter sun, it was announced he had stopped driving. The closeness between Philip and Penny clearly did not upset the Queen, at least not publicly. So little wonder the makers of TVs The Crown have delved into the extraordinary relationship between Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull in the new series of the Netflix drama. Netflix has confirmed that this show is indeed a fictional dramatization, shortly after a public slam from the dame. Alexandra, a financial analyst known as Knatch, chose to marry Thomas Hooper, an entrepreneur, on what would have been her sister Leonoras 30th birthday. Philip always was a flirt and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. In happier times, she could be seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the royal family, waving at the crowds and taking in the trooping of the color (per the Irish Times). Read more about Lord Mountbattens death at the hands of the IRA here. Penny was reportedly introduced to the royal family at a polo match when she was 20 years old. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip's beautiful friendship The friendship with Prince Philip was more public, while her relationship with the Queen was more private, Hello Magazine reported. By coincidence, Leonora shared the same birthday as Uncle Dickie. To palace staff, she had another nickname: "And Also." Penelope 'Penny' Knatchbull remained one of Prince Philip's closest friends for several decades (Picture: Netflix) Netflix . Penelope Knatchbull was still Penelope Eastwood when she first met the royal family. When Philip was involved in a car accident near the Queens Norfolk retreat of Sandringham in January 2019, Her Majesty dispatched Penny to encourage the duke to surrender his drivers licence. Jonathan Pryce and Natascha McElhone recreate the relationship between Knatchbull and Philip in The Crown.. After theyd spent a weekend with her, [Penny] said that [Diana] appeared to be auditioning for a role in a costume drama. For their part, Knatchbull and the royals gave no public credence to the rumors. Knatchbull was born Penelope Eastwood. In the show, Penny and Philip are seen touching hands as he divulges details of his marriage. Penny Eastwood was the daughter of a very rich meat trader, the founder of the Angus Steakhouse chain, and married Norton Knatchbull, a cousin of Prince Charles and godson of Prince Philip - in 1979 Alexandra, a financial analyst known as Knatch, chose to marry Thomas Hooper, an entrepreneur, on what would have been her sister Leonoras 30th birthday. When he removed himself to the Bahamas in 2010, he relinquished the job, which largely consists of presiding over local functions in ceremonial dress. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. Earl Mountbatten is a relative of Prince Philips uncle, the first Earl Mountbatten, to whom Philip was exceptionally close. Either way, the Queen and Penny remained close even after Philips death. Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip. As The Crown shows, their youngest, Leonora, died of kidney cancer at age 6. Penelope Knatchbull nicknamed Penny is one of the closest friends of the royal family. It was even rumoured Prince Charles had cut off his friendship with Penny after someone close to him shared their suspicion that his father was having an affair with her. He trusted her implicitly, and she adored him. The bomb blast on board his fishing boat off County Sligo, Ireland, which featured in the last series of The Crown, also killed Nortons 14-year-old brother Nicholas and his grandmother, Lady Brabourne. Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. Her marriage troubles came on top of worry about their son, Nicholas, who was a year above Prince William at Eton, and had spent years hooked on crack cocaine and heroin. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. In real life as on Netflix, the story of Uncle Dickie was one of the Royal Familys greatest traumas and tragedies as he was, indeed, murdered by the Irish Republican Army at age 79. Im talking about the Countess of Westmorland, the Duchess of Abercorn, clarifies Bedell Smith. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. Netflix are not interested in peoples feelings.. THEIR friendship spanned decades and often raised eyebrows. The upcoming fifth season of Netflix's hit . She also appeared at Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in 2022, when the monarch died at age 96. She never betrayed him. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Even when they had these moments where Penny actually said, You should not marry Diana. Indeed, she has been so much a part of royal life, household staff nicknamed her And Also, because whenever Philip listed guests who were to be invited to a royal do, he would end with and also Penny. Lady Penny and Prince Philip did become dear friends and bond over riding carriages. Philip, of course, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Of course, incidents like this on the Isle of Wight only fuelled whispers that they may have been more than just good friends. The Queen and Philip admired Penny for her indomitable spirit, dignity, and grace and made sure she was included in their lives as much as possibleso much so that Penny acquired the nickname and also as she was frequently a guest at Windsor Castle for the weekends. Penny isnt exactly a super-public figure, but shes been a close friend of the royal family for years. The British actor also appeared in The Truman Show, Solaris and The Other Boleyn Girl.. She remained a close companion to Philip for his whole life. Despite his great age, she still acts as a confidante and they share a boisterous sense of humor. Thus, its not surprising that Philip and Penny would be close; the Mountbatten family had always figured prominently in Philips life story and his heart. Her father was Reginald Eastwood, described by the Sun as a butcher-turned-businessman.. On the inside, behind the large ornate story, their relationship was going through a shift. She was only 5 years old. Born Penelope Meredith Mary Knatchbull (are you even a member of English high society if you dont have a million names? For an example of how ubiquitous Knatchbull's presence in royal events is, just look to Philip's funeral. ago. Nicholas is in line to inherit the wealth of the Mountbatten family and his father's titles, but he was reportedly once in danger of being disinherited. Ingrid Seward, author of biography Prince Philip Revealed: A Man Of His Century, said: The Queen had enlisted the help of the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who visited Philip and helped convince him to give up driving.. Tatler reports that King Charles III is godfather to the Knatchbull's oldest, Nicholas, and that he gave Alexandra away at her wedding to Thomas Hooper in 2016 (Norton was said to be too ill). We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Have you ever stopped to think that for years, I have never moved anywhere without a policeman accompanying me? Norton had been a year above Prince Charles at Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun and the Queen and Philip never forgot his kindness in looking after their eldest child during his challenging time there. Asked whether these female friendships ever bothered the queen, Bedell Smith points to a conversation she had with Pamela Hicks, who was a bridesmaid and lady-in-waiting to the late monarch. So why is her appearance in The Crown so controversial? A source close to the royal family is slamming Countess Mountbatten's supposed portrayal in "The Crown" as "deliberately cruel" and "unnecessarily unsympathetic." She later became the second-most important woman in the Duke of Edinburghs life a constant confidante, loyal companion and keeper of secrets,'" Seward wrote. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. Broadlands, the Romsey estate the Knatchbulls call home, dates back to before the 11th century and was once part of the local abbey. Before you start side-eying, Penny was also photographed a ton with Queen Elizabeth II. Mountbatten was a strong influence on the future King Charles III, who dubbed his great-uncle an honorary grandfather, as per Jonathan Dimbleby's "The Prince of Wales: A Biography." So little wonder the makers of TVs The Crown have delved into the extraordinary relationship between Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull in the new series of the Netflix drama. The fifth-season story lineabout Philips relationship with his carriage-driving companion, who was more than 30 years youngercaused controversy even before episodes aired. 690 comment s 1 video The Crown creator Peter Morgan has long been fascinated by the 73-year marriage between Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, devoting story lines in the series first four seasons to the unique power dynamicdramatizing, for example, Philips struggle sacrificing his naval career to support his wife just five years into their marriage, when she suddenly became queen. Ingrid says: They were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. The queen was said to have "been impressed" with Knatchbull when Penny's future husband, Norton, introduced them in 1975 (per Daily Express ). By coincidence, Leonora shared the same birthday as Uncle Dickie. Getty20th October 1979: The grandson of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Lord Romsey, marries Penelope Eastwood at Romsey Abbey. He encouraged Penny to take up his sport of carriage driving, to distract her, and got his head groom Micky Flynn to show her the ropes. During the 1990s . Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull go way back, having first met each other at a polo match in Great Windsor Park in 1974. The two bonded when Prince Philip took Knatchbull under his wing and offered support following the death of her 5-year-old daughter, Leonora, to kidney cancer in 1991, according to People. So how the hell could I get away with anything like that?". Philip's biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun that she dispatched Knatchbull to carry out the difficult task of convincing him to surrender his driver's license. "Philip always was a flirt," his biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun. In May last year, tattooed Nicholas, 40, a music producer and gardener, married Ambre Pouzet, a French former fire-eating mermaid performer. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Knatchbull was one of only 30 people invited to the Duke of Edinburghs funeral, according to The Radio Times. Because apparently, the show strongly implies that Penny and Prince Philip were having an affair. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. A mitigating factor in any hard feelings Penelope might have held toward her husband may be the state of his health. Prince Philip and Penny riding motorbikes in 2006. So little wonder the makers of TVs The Crown have delved into the extraordinary relationship between Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull in the new series of the Netflix drama. GettyLord Brabourne and Lady Brabourne attend the funeral service of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma at St Pauls Church in Knightsbridge on June 27, 2017 in London, England. Charles is close to the Knatchbull's children (per Tatler), and Dimbley claims in "Prince of Wales" that they were some of his only friends to warn him against his marriage to Diana Spencer. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma 32 years younger than the late Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April 2021 aged 99 has been a trusted member of the Royal Familys inner circle for years and bonded with Philip through their love of carriage driving. There was never any question she would leave Broadlands, where every day she visits the tall stone monument, about 100 yards from the house, which stands above her daughter Leonoras grave. It was only when he feared he would be cut off from the familys 100million fortune that he checked into rehab and kicked his habits. The full blossoming of friendship between the prince and Knatchbull came in 1991. Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten affectionately known by the royals as Uncle Dickie was assassinated by the IRA. Penny and Philip met in 1974 and hit it off immediately despite their 32-year age difference, becoming closer when Penny's daughter. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family.. Below are some key moments from their her friendship with the late Duke of Edinburgh through the years. Her father, Reginald Eastwood, founded the Angus Steakhouse chain, as Nicholas Davies writes in his 2000 Queen Elizabeth biography, "Beyond Palace Doors.". Norton Knatchbull was a cousin of the then-prince and a good friend; they both attended Gordonstoun boarding school (per Jonathan Dimbley's "The Prince of Wales: A Biography"). Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The day after Philip was laid to rest at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, Irish republican party Sinn Fein the political wing of the IRA apologised for Mountbattens assassination. Her husband Norton Knatchbull is Philip's godson and a grandson of Philip's uncle, Louis Mountbatten (per iNews). They later established the Leonora Children's Cancer Fund charity in her memory. She was dating Norton Knatchbull,. Unlike her husband, Penny was the daughter of a. The relationship between the First Lord Mountbatten and Philip featured prominently in a previous season of The Crown.. If she had been hurt by rumours of supposed dalliances, she would never let on., Philip himself would simply laugh off any suggestion of impropriety. The earlier season of the popular show showed that Mountbatten was especially close to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Devastated by this horror, Penny and Norton decided to postpone their wedding for two months. Born Penelope Meredith Mary Eastwood on April 16, 1953, she is the only daughter of a wealthy business owner and grew up in Switzerland before going on to graduate from the London School of Economics in 1976. Josh OConnor, who played Prince Charles in seasons 3 and 4, refused to reenact the scandalous conversation. But Penelope has also taken over some ceremonial duties related to her husband's titles. And now, in the series fifth season, the first installment to air after Prince Philips and Queen Elizabeths deaths, Morgan returns to this fascination in the episode The System, exploring the idea of spouses growing apart (or, as The Crowns Philip says, growing in separate directions), and introducing the close real-life friendship between Philip (Jonathan Pryce) and his carriage-driving partner Lady Penny Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma (Natascha McElhone). Penelope Knatchbull had a long-term friendship with Prince Philip. Ingrid says: They were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. Promise. She was the only non-family member at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary. She was dubbed and also because she was so often included in Royal events, according to Express. Here's the scoop on her life and friendship with the late Prince Philip. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. "This is cruel rubbish," Queen Elizabeth II's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said of the storyline (per The Sun). Noting that the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was then approaching, she said that she would attend, not only as a guest but as a representative of Romsey. Penny was introduced to Philip at age 20 while dating husband-to-be Norton Knatchbull, Philips godson and grandson of the dukes uncle Lord Mountbatten. Ingrid Seward, author of biography Prince Philip Revealed: A Man Of His Century, said: The Queen had enlisted the help of the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who visited Philip and helped convince him to give up driving.. She did allow Norton back to Broadlands in 2014, not to themarital home, but to a converted barn there. February 27, 2023 . According to Newsweek, Penelope Knatchbull is the only daughter of Reginald and Marian Eastwood. And as usual, the truth is slightly more complicated. Courtesy of Netflix; Steve Parsons/PA Wire. So What Was Penny's IRL Relationship With Philip? Penelope Knatchbull's titles have changed over the years. She is referred to as Lady Romsey in The Crown, a title she held from 1979 to 2005 before becoming Lady Brabourne from 2005 to 2017 and now the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, according to Today. And Wales Online noted that she has often been seen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as a guest of the family. But there's no evidence of it. Penny was introduced to Philip at age 20 while dating husband-to-be Norton Knatchbull, Philip's godson and grandson of the duke's uncle Lord Mountbatten. They were friends, she was married, she lived nearby. If Philip had been looking down on them, he surely would have been smiling too. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Penelope has been so much a part of royal life, household staff have nicknamed her And Also, Penelope has been a trusted member of the Royal Familys inner circle for years and bonded with Philip through their love of carriage-driving, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Phillip and Natascha McElhone as Penny Knatchbull in The Crown, Penny was the only non-family at Philips small, Covid-restricted funeral, except for his personal secretary, Penny and Prince Charles pictured in 1983, The pair mount their motorbikes during the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park, Windsor Castle on May 13, 2005, Philip and Penny at Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2009, Inside Prince Philips highly personal relationship with Penny Knatchbull the only non-Royal invited to his funeral. Philip, though, was the right consort for Elizabeth when they married, and they have stayed in love ever since, despite going through various ups and downs throughout their . It may be that she harbored suspicions or resentments about the nature of Prince Philip's friendship with Penelope Knatchbull, or that she was upset by other rumors of infidelity during their long marriage. Elena Nicolaou is a senior entertainment editor at Today.com, where she covers the latest in TV, pop culture, movies and all things streaming. Penny Knatchbull is the wife of Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a cousin-once-removed of Prince Philip and with whom she shares three children. Dimbleby claims that before his assassination by the IRA, Mountbatten was trying to arrange a marriage between Charles and Norton's sister, Amanda. In 1981, when it was in the hands of Penelope and Norton Knatchbull, Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent the first part of their honeymoon there as well. Appearing on Palace Confidential, Dr Dunlop commented on a storyline in The Crown which will see Prince Philip pursuing a relationship with British aristocrat Penny Knatchbull. She even stayed close through the Duke of Edinburgh's final days. Andrew Knight, who was the editor of The Sunday Times, did talk to [Knatchbull and Romsey] and they were just absolutely outraged. THEIR friendship spanned decades and often raised eyebrows. The Sun reported that Knatchbull was born in London, England, on April 16, 1963. And so it was the same kind of thing. Owing to her husband Norton Knatchbull's declining health due to Alzheimer's disease (per Wales Online), Penelope Knatchbull has had to assume some of his responsibilities to the family's holdings. However testy that conversation may have gone, Knatchbull remained a visitor to Wood Farm until Philip's death in 2021. Penny Knatchbull was known as the confidant and "keeper of secrets" for Prince Philip after meeting him and the Monarch in 1974. A TV insider last year said: The highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by the Queen or the rest of the Royal Family.. She never betrayed him. The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. With Philip and Penny, who was previously known as Lady Romsey then Lady Brabourne, it was a meeting of the minds. The civil ceremony at Broadlands was a far cry from his sister Alexandras lavish 2016 wedding at Romsey Abbey, in which she was given away by Prince Charles, as her father, The Queen and Philip watched. She looked heartbroken when she arrived at the funeral and she is heartbroken. The Crown's fifth season isn't solely focused on Charles and Diana drama. Penny was introduced to Philip at age 20 while dating husband-to-be Norton Knatchbull, Philip's godson and grandson of the duke's uncle Lord Mountbatten. Philip encouraged her to take up carriage driving and supported her when her husband, Norton, his godson, left her in 2010 for a fling with Nassau-based fashion designer Eugenie Nuttall.. Here they are sharing a laugh in 2018: Meanwhile, Seward notes, Well never know how the Queen felt about it all. One source said: He was a tremendous support during a time of unimaginable grief.. Philip also gives sound advice on the running of the Broadlands estate, and they have the ability to cheer each other on even in the direst of circumstances.