While not among the nobility, the Eastwoods did have a claim to a certain position in British culture. Their companionship continued for years, with Lady Penny seen with Prince Philip and the Queen at Sandringham, horse shows, and other royal events. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. According to Express, Norton had an affair that became public, and Penny ordered him to stay in a converted barn, although she took him back. Countess Penny attends the private funeral service for Prince Philip. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. The royal family attended, and Prince Charles, the groom's second cousin, even served as best man. One source said at the time: Not for a moment would Penny allow her husbands departure to interrupt the smooth running of the estate.. In May last year, tattooed Nicholas, 40, a music producer and gardener, married Ambre Pouzet, a French former fire-eating mermaid performer. The Express claimed that the queen was impressed by how Knatchbull handled the death of her daughter Leonora and her fortitude in the face of her husband Norton's well-publicized affair. It was the first season of the series to be released following both the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April 2021 and the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.. Imelda Staunton stars as Elizabeth, along with main cast members Jonathan . The earlier season of the popular show showed that Mountbatten was especially close to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. By coincidence, Leonora shared the same birthday as Uncle Dickie. The relationship between Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip is causing controversy. Sometimes tragedy builds unlikely bonds between people. Queen Elizabeth and Penny chat at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2001. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Lady Penelope (Penny) Romsey arrive at the Guards Polo Club on June 1, 1975 in Windsor, England. 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. Charles, Philip's oldest son who is now the British sovereign, was Norton Knatchbull's best man in their wedding. The newlyweds inherited Mountbatten's home of Broadlands in Hampshire.freveale. Prince Philip's relationship with 'confidante' Penny Knatchbull 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 was godmother to Alexandra Knatchbull, not Leonora, as the show depicts. But Seward writes that the entire royal family was fond of Penny, not just Charles and Philip. When he removed himself to the Bahamas in 2010, he relinquished the job, which largely consists of presiding over local functions in ceremonial dress. Penny returned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show last month without her decades-long comp-anion for the first time. 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." Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. He passed away in April 2021, and this is them hanging in May 2022: Not great! Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Her husband Norton Knatchbull is Philip's godson and a grandson of Philip's uncle, Louis Mountbatten (per iNews). Where are 'Scream killers' Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik now? While driving around sprawling country estates, Philip liked to discuss religion and other deep, worldly matters., Seward also said that they were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. The story later shifted, with Charles supposedly the smokescreen that kept prying eyes away from her romance with Norton Knatchbull. Here they are together at Nortons christening: On top of all that, Norton is also Prince Charless second cousinand Charles was actually the best man at Norton and Pennys wedding: Anyway, Penny became close to the royals in part through her husband and was often seen hanging with Prince Charles: But she became particularly tight with Nortons godfather Prince Philip thanks to their shared love for carriage driving. Below are some key moments from their her friendship with the late Duke of Edinburgh through the years. Elena Nicolaou is a senior entertainment editor at Today.com, where she covers the latest in TV, pop culture, movies and all things streaming. 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. She looked heartbroken when she arrived. Who Is Penny Knatchbull? Inside Her Relationship To Prince Philip To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Its a new decade, and the royal family are facing what may be their biggest challenge yet: proving their continued relevance in 90s Britain. A source close to the royal family is slamming Countess Mountbatten's supposed portrayal in "The Crown" as "deliberately cruel" and "unnecessarily unsympathetic." After theyd spent a weekend with her, [Penny] said that [Diana] appeared to be auditioning for a role in a costume drama. 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. 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. She looked heartbroken when she arrived at the funeral and she is heartbroken. Her death is said to be what drove Penelope into a deeper friendship with Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, as per Yahoo! They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. Either way, the Queen and Penny remained close even after Philips death. Ad Choices. Penny Knatchbull is a member of the British aristocracy and related by marriage to the royals, including both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. "The Crown" Season 5: Who Is Penny Knatchbull . Did Prince Philip have an affair? The Crown's Penny Knatchbull To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Before you start side-eying, Penny was also photographed a ton with Queen Elizabeth II. So how the hell could I get away with anything like that?". She was seen standing behind the Queen, broad grins on both their faces. 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. Philip always was a flirt, and the Queen used to joke about his lascivious nature. Her father was Reginald Eastwood, described by the Sun as a butcher-turned-businessman.. 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. Prince Philip and Penny riding motorbikes in 2006. What really happened between Penelope Knatchbull and Philip? The Crown However, there is no question that Knatchbull and Philip were very close. Their friendship began after Leonoras death: Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart and encouraged her to take up carriage driving, Seward wrote. The Royal Family, in particular The Queen, were full of admiration for Pennys stoicism. The closeness between Philip and Penny clearly did not upset the Queen, at least not publicly. Penny is thought to have met Philip in 1974 when she was dating Norton Knatchbull, now the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, one of Prince Charles's closest friends at Gordonstoun School in Scotland. Who is Penny Knatchbull? Prince Philip's 'closest confidante' 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. Three weeks after the accident, which Philip blamed on him being blinded by the low winter sun, it was announced he had stopped driving. Reginald, a one-time butcher, according toThe Telegraph, was the founder of the restaurant chain Aberdeen Steak House in the 1960s, later known as Angus Steak House. 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.. 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. 690 comment s 1 video The Daily Mail claims that Nicholas was at one time addicted to crack and heroin. For Philip, it meant he gained an attractive companion to events such as the Royal Windsor Horse Show and at numerous social gatherings associated with the sport and beyond. Philip's close relationship with Penny Knatchbull explained: 'Neither of them gave a damn' PRINCE PHILIP had a very close relationship with one of the surprise attendees at his funeral,. Philip and Penny, who is 32 years younger than the late Duke of Edinburgh, are said to have first met in 1975 when she became engaged to Norton Knatchbull. Ingrid says: They were brought together by tragedy but were there for each other through thick and thin. Penny, left to manage her and Nortons 5,000-acre Hampshire estate alone, reportedly gathered together all the staff while her estranged husband was mid-flight and told them he had gone but everything else would stay the same. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Did Prince Philip Really Have an Affair? - Town & Country Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. But the highly personal relationship is unlikely to be welcomed as a storyline by Her Majesty or the rest of the royal family.. Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart following the death of her five-year-old daughter, Leonora, from kidney cancer in 1991, wrote Ingrid Seward in 2020s Prince Philip Revealed. 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. Philip took the devastated Knatchbull under his wing. Penelope Knatchbull and Prince Philip: The true story of the The truth is that Penny was a long-time friend of the whole family. Norton, who is also known as Lord Romsey, inherited the ceremonial office of High Steward of Romsey in 1979,according to the Daily Echo, along with the Broadlands estate outside the town center. Who is Penelope 'Penny' Knatchbull? Prince Philip's close friendship In the first episode of season 4, Lord Mountbatten was blown up on a fishing boat by the Irish Republican Army (the IRA). For Philip, it meant he gained an attractive companion to events such as the Royal Windsor Horse Show and at numerous social gatherings associated with the sport and beyond. Her father, Reginald Eastwood, founded the Angus Steakhouse chain, as Nicholas Davies writes in his 2000 Queen Elizabeth biography, "Beyond Palace Doors.". Sure enough, the queen reluctantly meets with her husband's companion one-on-one and even invites her to ride with her to church service. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Nortons relationship to the British royals runs deep, but for starters, he was the grandson of Lord Mountbattenwho viewers of The Crown know was very close to then-Prince Charles. The full blossoming of friendship between the prince and Knatchbull came in 1991. Penelope was invited to take over as High Steward by the town council. Tatler reported that he came home in 2014. Per the Hampshire Chronicle, Penelope who is known affectionately as Lady Penny in Romsey pledged loyal service to the community. However testy that conversation may have gone, Knatchbull remained a visitor to Wood Farm until Philip's death in 2021. The relationship between the First Lord Mountbatten and Philip featured prominently in a previous season of The Crown.. Her husband Norton, now the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, fled to the Caribbean to be with fashion designer Eugenie Nuttall. The Truman Show actress Natascha McElhone plays Penny in The Crown, with veteran actor Jonathan Pryce taking over from Tobias Menzies as Philip. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Dominic West, his successor, will. Back then, Penny was simply Penelope Eastwood, daughter of Reg Eastwood, a wealthy butcher turned businessman who founded the Angus Steakhouse restaurants. Who Is Penny Knatchbull? Prince Philip's Close Friend in 'The Crown' Humiliated Putin to miss G20 summit over fears of ASSASSINATION attempt after troops evacuate Kherson, I've been stuck in my living room for 12 months as the council won't find me a new home, I'm at my wit's end, Cyclist, 20s, in critical condition after horror collision with lorry in Dublin as gardai appeal for witnesses. Three years later, she married Norton Knatchbull, Lord Romsey at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire, andPrince Charles served as best man at their wedding. She did allow Norton back to Broadlands in 2014, not to themarital home, but to a converted barn there. But author Ingrid said: Well never know how the Queen felt about it all. 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. She has also been known as Lady Romsey and Lady Brabourne, as well as the High Steward of Romsey. According to Seward, Knatchbull was close to both Elizabeth and Philip, and is a friend to their son, now-King Charles III. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Seward called her a touchstone of royal life, writing, She (provided) a touchstone to the outside world and (told) both Philip and the queen about whats going on.. In reality, Knatchbull entered the royal fray in 1979 when she married Prince Charless second cousin Lord Romsey, son and heir of the 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma. She did allow Norton back to Broadlands in 2014, not to themarital home, but to a converted barn there. Inside Prince Philip's 'highly personal' relationship with Penny Knatchbull - the only non-Royal invited to his funeral Kate Jackson Published : 10:36, 10 Nov 2022 How Accurate Is Prince Philip & Penny Knatchbull's Relationship In Its interesting, though slightly tangential, but after he retired to Wood Farm where he continued his carriage driving, he would go out every morning at nine. Penny Knatchbull Was Prince Phillip's Best Friend. Here's The - Grunge 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. He told journalist Jeremy Paxman: Every time I talk to a woman they say Ive been to bed with her. 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. And Wales Online noted that she has often been seen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as a guest of the family. 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. Andrew Knight, who was the editor of The Sunday Times, did talk to [Knatchbull and Romsey] and they were just absolutely outraged. The British actor also appeared in The Truman Show, Solaris and The Other Boleyn Girl.. And I thought it was very comparable to the kind of relationship he had with Penny., Though Knatchbull has never spoken publicly about Philip, Bedell Smith notes that Sacha Abercorn attempted to put rumors to rest. Although Prince Philip was 32 years Knatchbull's senior, she soon became known as Prince Philip's "keeper of secrets" in British tabloids. 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. She was known as Lady Romsey between 1979 and 2005; The Lady Brabourne between 2005 and 2017; and now Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Pennys marriage broke down in 2010, after 31 years and three children. Tragedy befell the family in 1979 when Lord Mountbatten affectionately known by the royals as Uncle Dickie was assassinated by the IRA. She remained close with the royal family, and was one of only a few mourners at Prince Philip's 2021 funeral, which had limited attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Philip and Knatchbull never had a romantic relationship, their friendship was undoubtedly close. 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. So why is her appearance in The Crown so controversial? According to Newsweek, Penelope Knatchbull is the only daughter of Reginald and Marian Eastwood. Seward agreed, adding that Philip was not the type of man to discuss private details of his marriage with anyone. Where are 'Scream killers' Brian Draper and Torey Adamcik now? In 2010, Norton left Penny to be with a Bahamian fashion designer but returned after dumping her. Express describes Norton as the son of Philips first cousin. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Penny and Norton at their wedding in 1979. Everything You Need to Know About Penny Knatchbull, Turns Out Charles and Camilla Met Through His Ex, Harry and Meghan Are OK About Leaving Frogmore, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. 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. Netflix has confirmed that this show is indeed a fictional dramatization, shortly after a public slam from the dame. The couple revisited the estate in 2007 and recreated one of the photos from that time for their 60th wedding anniversary. Queen Elizabeth attends Norton and Pennys wedding. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Leonora, sadly, did not survive to adulthood. 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 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 Crown on Netflix. The Crown's Penny Knatchbull star has been in shows from Philip and Penny are said to have first met when she was dating her husband-to-be aged 20. They were even spotted dancing together at the Royal Yacht Squadron Ball during one Cowes Week. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. And they were often seen chilling at events: These two were so close, in fact, that Penny was one of only 30 mourners at Philips funeral: And she was also one of the mourners at the Queens funeral: According to reports from The Sun, The Crowns fifth season will showcase Prince Philip in intimate scenes with Penny. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now. Her husband Norton, now the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma, fled to the Caribbean to be with fashion designer Eugenie Nuttall. Although she mostly grew up in Sweden, Penny was incredibly close to the royals thanks to her marriage to Norton Louis Philip Knatchbull. Penny Knatchbull and Prince Philip. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Of course, incidents like this on the Isle of Wight only fuelled whispers that they may have been more than just good friends. The truth is that Penny was a long-time friend of the whole family. Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's Relationship Timeline By accepting, she was automatically in the post, but a formal induction ceremony was held in 2011. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. And sources say that Knatchbull also had a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth. 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. "Philip befriended her when her life began to fall apart. 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"). The Crown's fifth season isn't solely focused on Charles and Diana drama. Leonora was buried on the grounds of Broadlands, the family estate, and Penelope later established the Leonora Children's Cancer Fund. His drug issues made his family question his future, but the Mail's story also claimed that he had kicked his habits and worked to repair his relationship with his father. She and the duke also both shared a boisterous sense of humour, according to Ingrid. View our online Press Pack. 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. Alexandra was at the time furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.. Because apparently, the show strongly implies that Penny and Prince Philip were having an affair. Attn: everyone wondering if she *really* had an affair with Prince Philip. 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. With Philip and Penny, who was previously known as Lady Romsey then Lady Brabourne, it was a meeting of the minds. Besides keeping in touch with her old friend, Knatchbull reportedly played a key part in an embarrassing public episode of Philip's retired life. She was a keeper not only of his secrets but those of the family.. That bit of matchmaking didn't work out, but Mountbatten was also supportive of Penelope's entering the family, according to Newsweek. But the two have continued to have a presence in each other's lives. 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. Shes completely wrong for you, he forgave her.. She never betrayed him. .css-5rg4gn{display:block;font-family:NeueHaasUnica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-5rg4gn:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin:0.75rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:0.02rem;margin:0.9375rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;margin:0.9375rem 0 0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;}}'Outer Banks' Season 3 Arrives in February, Riley Keough Explains Sex Scene With Her Husband. She also noted that the queen was sufficiently aware and presumably comfortable with her husband's flirtatious tendencies to joke about it. 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. By coincidence, Leonora shared the same birthday as Uncle Dickie. 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. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. They're also distantly related by blood: Norton is the grandson of of Philip's uncle, Louis. The house, which formerly belonged to Lord Mountbatten, is to be re-opened to the public. According to The Sun, she and the prince's private secretary were the only non-family in attendance. However, despite their estrangement, Penelope and Norton remained legally married. Her presence at the funeral among only thirty attendees is exactly what the late Duke would have wanted, and the entire family will be pleased to have her among them on the sombre occasion. Who was Johnny Whited and what happened to Christopher Alvin Dailey. Prince Philip and Penny at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2007. Their marriage gave her the title of Lady Romsey, later becoming The Lady Brabourne in 2017, and she has now inherited the title of Countess Mountbatten of Burma. She was seen standing behind the Queen, broad grins on both their faces. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. She was diagnosed with cancer and died at age 5. As Diana and Charles wage a media. 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. He trusted her implicitly and she adored him. With Philip and Penny, who was previously known as Lady Romsey then Lady Brabourne, it was a meeting of the minds. Queen Elizabeth II's thoughts and feelings on nearly everything were opaque. The truth is that Penny was a longtime friend of the whole family. 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 Knatchbull lost her 5-year-old daughter Leonora to kidney cancer in 1991; The New York Post reports that The Crown argues this tragedy brought her closer to Philip. He walked Norton's daughter Alexandra Knatchbull down the aisle. According to Seward, Knatchbull was part of the difficult conversation following Philips car accident about giving up driving. Season Five of The Crown explores Prince Philips companionship, as his character says in the show, with Penny Knatchbull, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Netflix is not interested in peoples feelings. Yikes! When asked more broadly about allegations he had affairs, Philip would snap at the press. Nicholas's first child was born in June 2022. If she had been hurt by rumors of supposed dalliances, she would never let on.. A source told The Sun in 2021 that this is a relationship which naturally raised a few eyebrows and sparked quite a few whispers, but Philip and Penny maintained they were just friends.