Editing Lord Mountbatten (section)

=== Leisure interests ===
Mountbatten was passionate about [[genealogy]], an interest he shared with other European royalty and nobility; according to Ziegler, he spent a great deal of his leisure time in studying his links with European royal houses.<ref>{{Harvp|Ziegler|1985|p=21, 117}}</ref> From 1957 until his death, Lord Mountbatten was Patron of the [[Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Further Information|url=http://cuhags.soc.srcf.net/misc/|access-date=10 August 2022|website=Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society|archive-date=10 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810091749/http://cuhags.soc.srcf.net/misc/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was equally passionate about orders, decorations and military ranks and uniforms, though he considered this interest to be a sign of vanity and constantly tried to distance himself from it, with limited success.<ref name="Harvp|Ziegler|1985|p=116–117">{{Harvp|Ziegler|1985|p=116–117}}</ref> Over the course of his career, he consistently attempted to secure as many orders and decorations as possible.<ref>{{Harvp|Vickers|1994|p=184–187}}</ref> Particular about details of dress, Mountbatten took an interest in fashion design, introducing trouser zips, a tail-coat with broad, high lapels and a "buttonless waistcoat" that could be pulled on over the head.<ref>{{Harvp|Ziegler|1985|p=109}}</ref> In 1949, having by then relinquished the office of [[Governor-General of India]] but retaining a keen interest in Indian affairs, he designed new flags, insignia, and details of uniforms for the [[Indian Armed Forces]] ahead of the transition from British dominion to republic; many of his designs were implemented and remain in use.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chhina |first=Man Aman Singh |date=2 September 2022 |title=Explained: How India adopted its military flags and badges based on Lord Mountbatten's suggestions |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-adopted-military-flags-badges-lord-mountbattens-suggestions-8125477/ |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=2 September 2022 |archive-date=2 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902050114/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/india-adopted-military-flags-badges-lord-mountbattens-suggestions-8125477/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Like many members of the royal family, Mountbatten was an aficionado of polo.  Mountbatten introduced the sport to the Royal Navy in the 1920s and wrote a book on the subject.{{r|life1942081763}} He received US patent 1,993,334 in 1931 for a polo stick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US1993334A/en|title=Polo Stick: United States Patent 1993334|access-date=19 July 2021|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719173342/https://patents.google.com/patent/US1993334A/en|url-status=live}}</ref> He also served as Commodore of Emsworth Sailing Club in [[Hampshire]] from 1931.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservancy.co.uk/assets/assets/walks_ems_lang.pdf |title=Emsworth to Langstone |access-date=19 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922184900/http://www.conservancy.co.uk/assets/assets/walks_ems_lang.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was a long-serving Patron of the [[Society for Nautical Research]] (1951–1979).<ref>{{Harvp|Murphy|Oddy|2010|p=191}}</ref> Apart from official documents, Mountbatten was not much of a reader, though he liked [[P. G. Wodehouse]]'s books. He enjoyed the cinema; his favourite stars were [[Fred Astaire]], [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Grace Kelly]] and [[Shirley MacLaine]]. In general, however, he had a limited interest in the arts.<ref name="Harvp|Ziegler|1985|p=116–117"/>