We're calling it! Series 27 of Made In Chelsea is officially in the running to become one of our favourite ever seasons. And that's in no small part thanks to Mr Freddy Knatchbull. Now, Freddy joined the show back in series 25 and seems to be making it his life's mission to date his way through all of the petite blondes of SW10.
First came Verity Bowditch and then MIC newbie Jasmine Saunders, but who exactly is Freddy Knatchbull? And is 2024 the year that he finally doesn't get friend-zoned by one of his many love interests? From what we've seen so far, it's not looking likely!
Who is Freddy Knatchbull?
As well as being one of our favourite Made In Chelsea recruits, Freddy is also currently a student and a model - signed to Select Model London. He was reportedly scouted while walking down London's Oxford Street.
Freddy is a good friend of fellow model Joel Mignott, which is how he had ended up on the show.
How old is Freddy Knatchbull?
Born on 6 June, Freddy is just 20 years old, making him the youngest cast member on the show.
Where did Freddy Knatchbull go to school?
When he first joined Made in Chelsea, Freddy was studying Politics at Newcastle University, but prior to that he attended Radley College - an all boys boarding school in Oxfordshire that covers 800 acres and boasts its own golf course. What did we expect from a MIC star?
Who are Freddy Knatchbull's parents?
Freddy is the son of Curzon Cinema's CEO Philip Knatchbull (grandson of 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma) and his second wife, Wendy. You know Curzon - the UK's leading independent film distributor and cinema operator. His sister, Daisy Knatchbull, is a fashion designer and CEO of The Deck London – a made-to-measure tailoring house exclusively for women.
Is Freddy Knatchbull part of the Royal Family?
Sort of - his links are very strong. In an interview with OK! Freddy revealed all.
'My great-grandad, Lord Mountbatten, was very "in" with the royal family.' Many will remember that Lord Mountbatten was the uncle of Prince Philip and mentor to King Charles III in his younger years. 'He also used to holiday with the royals all the time,' Freddy revealed.
But what does Freddy think about his links to high society? 'I've grown up in a generation that isn’t close with the monarchy any more,' he admitted. 'But my aunts and uncles are still involved.'
He continued, 'When I talk to my friends at uni about him [Lord Mountbatten], no one knows who he is. But when I talk to my parents’ friends, they know everything about him.'
Freddy also revealed that his great-grandfather had a strong influence on King Charles III as a young boy. According to many royal biographies, the pair fondly referred to each other as 'Honorary Grandfather' and 'Honorary Grandson.'
Who was Freddy Knatchbull's great-grandad Lord Mountbatten?
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten or Lord Mountbatten was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He was also the last English Governor General of India before it became independent and led the British against Japan in the Second World War.
After retiring from his military career, Lord Louis Mountbatten was known for taking long trips in his boat, Shadow V, often spending his summers at Classiebawn Castle in Ireland. However, in 1979 his boat exploded in the harbour - killing him almost instantly. Lord Mountbatten was assassinated by a bomb planted aboard his fishing boat by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Was Lord Mountbatten related to Queen Elizabeth II?
Yes. As with many members of the royal family, Louis Mountbatten was related to both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. A great-grandson of Queen Victoria, he was a second cousin of the Queen's as well as Prince Philip's uncle. Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was Louis's sister. So, this does mean Freddy has familial links to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Was Lord Mountbatten depicted in The Crown? Has Freddy Watched It?
Yes. The Crown fans will remember that Lord Mountbatten was depicted in the hit Netflix series played by Greg Wise in Seasons 1 and 2, and by Charles Dance in Seasons 3 and 4.
Despite having a close personal connection to the show however, Freddy has admitted that he hasn't watched the series. He shared, 'I know that The Crown features members of my family but I couldn’t comment on their portrayal as I haven’t seen the series. Definitely one for the list though.'
What is Freddy Knatchbull's net worth?
The ins and outs of Freddy's bank accounts are not on public record, however, if his family is anything to go by, it's unlikely that the model is struggling. His father, Curzon CEO and producer Phillip Knatchbull is expected to be worth between £1-5million according to the internet.
Does Freddy Knatchbull have Instagram?
But of course! He currently has over 24k followers after starring on Made In Chelsea. Follow him @freddyknatchbull.
Does Freddy Knatchbull have a girlfriend?
Freddy is currently single but his previous girlfriend was reportedly 18-year-old Tatler cover girl Delphi Primrose. She is the daughter of Lord Dalmeny, British aristocrat and the chairman of Sotheby's.
We've also seen Freddy ask out a number of girls on the show, including Verity and Jasmine without much luck. In fact, when Jasmine finally decided that she was potentially interested in Freddy, he went and got with Harvey Armstrong's girlfriend - the fallout from which is set to continue.
Why was Freddy Knatchbull kidnapped?
While filming in Corsica last year, Freddy was bundled and locked into a 4x4 by gangsters. It is not known why he was the target or the gang's motives. While he hasn't spoken out about the incident, a source told The Sun on Sunday, 'The cast were very worried. There were five burly men. They were intimidating and hostile and locked the doors of the 4x4 with Freddy inside. No one could get hold of him for ages.'
News about the kidnapping emerged in April. 'It was hugely worrying because he’s the youngest but it all ended up OK,' another insider said. 'We had no idea what was going on and whether it was linked to money or he’d just said the wrong thing in French. It’s been kept under lock and key ever since.'
Daisy Hall is a News and Entertainment writer on Grazia, specialising in TV and film meaning that you can count on Daisy for the latest (and best) recommendations.