Charles will meet team that tried to save Mountbatten
Prince charles will have an emotional meeting this week with those who helped with the rescue attempt on the day his great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was murdered by the irA.
He is to visit Mullaghmore in county Sligo, north-western ireland, to meet members of the public and emergency services personnel who came to the earl’s aid following the bombing of his fishing boat in 1979.
charles and the Duchess of cornwall will embark on a two-day tour of ireland – followed by a visit to northern ireland – on Tuesday as part of continuing ‘peace and reconciliation’ efforts.
On Wednesday the royal couple will visit Mullaghmore, where Lord Mountbatten – the Queen’s cousin and one of the most i nfluential figures in charles’s life – was killed.
The 79-year-old peer, who had a castle in the picturesque fishing village, was leaving the harbour aboard Shadow V when a bomb was detonated remotely.
The blast blew the boat ‘to smithereens’. Fishermen pulled Lord Mountbatten out of the water, but his legs had been almost completely severed and he died shortly afterwards.
One of the earl’s twin grandsons, nicholas Knatchbull, 14, also died in the explosion, along with l ocal boat boy Paul Maxwell, 15.
Another passenger on the boat, the Dowager Lady Brabourne, 82 – Lord Mountbatten’s daughter’s mother-in-law – died the day after the attack.
The irA admitted responsibility, saying: ‘This operation is one of the discriminate ways we can bring to the attention of the english people the continuing occupation of our country.’ Local man Thomas McMahon, one of the irA’s most experienced bomb-makers, was found guilty of the murders but released under the Good Friday Agreement.
The Mail understands the prince and the Duchess will meet those who helped with the rescue attempt. A source said: ‘it is sure to be an emotional moment for the prince.’
The visit will be held amid strict security. Just last week six republican dissidents were arrested – and two pipe bombs and a pistol seized – in raids said to be connected to the official visit.
Prince charles first visited the republic of ireland in 1995 but has never visited Sligo.
Buckingham Palace also announced further details yesterday of a rare state visit by the Queen and Prince Philip to Germany in June. One of the most poignant moments will be a visit to the Bergen-Belsen memorial site. They will also attend a state banquet and a garden party in their honour.