Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, has become the first member of the British royal family to come out as gay.

Mountbatten, who has three children with ex-wife Penelope Thompson, told the Mail on Sunday newspaper he had struggled with his sexuality but was happy to now be in a partnership with James Coyle, an airline cabin services director.

The 53-year-old, who is also the great-nephew of Earl Mountbatten of Burma who was murdered by the IRA, has told family and friends and introduced them to Mr Coyle, whom he met while skiing in Switzerland last March.

“Penny was aware before we got married. I told her I was bisexual, that my attraction went both ways. She was understanding and I will always be grateful to her,” said Mountbatten, who is the great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

“‘Coming out’ is such a funny phrase but it’s what I suppose I did in a rather roundabout way, emerging to a place I’m happy to be. I have struggled with my sexuality and in some ways I still do; it has been a real journey to reach this point.”

Earlier this year Prince William became the first member of the royal family to give an interview to a gay magazine.

In May, Attitude magazine and members of the LGBTQ community met at Kensington Palace, the London residence of the prince and his wife, to talk about their experiences of bullying and its effect on mental health.