The Queen's Husband

He was the longest serving Prince Consort in English history and married to the Queen for 73 years, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was one of the most down-to-earth Royals we will ever remember. He may not have been the Kingolf England but this Duke steered his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren through some really tough times, and today we see a really strong and (mostly) united Royal Family --- thanks to him!

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich, Philip Mountbatten --- was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on 10th June, 1921, on the dining table in Mon Repas on the Greek island of Corfu. This little Prince was the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Being a member of the House of Glucksburg (the ruling house of Denmark), Philip was a Prince of both Greece and Denmark “by virtue of his patrilineal descent from King George I of Greece” and was in the line of succession to that throne. Philip’s uncle was Lord Louis Mountbatten.

The Greco-Turkish war went badly for Greece, King Constatine I was forced to abdicate and Philip’s father, Prince Andrew, was exiled from Greece. The family moved to France and settled in the suburb of Saint-Cloud. Philip was raised as a Greek Orthodox Christian but because he left Greece as a baby, the Prince didn't speak Greek, although he ‘could understand a certain amount.’

This young Prince was first educated at The Elms (an American school in Paris) which was run by Donald Mac Jannet, who described his pupil as a “know it all smarty person, but always remarkably polite.” Philip ‘was sent’ to the United Kingdom in 1930, where he lived with his grandmother, Victoria Mountbatten, at Kensington Palace, and his uncle, George Mountbatten, at Lynden Manor in Bray, Berkshire, and attended Cheam school. His sisters married, his mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and put into an asylum, and his father went to live in Monte Carlo. Young Philip’s family had broken apart and he had very little contact with his mother from then on. His guardian and uncle, Lord Milford Haven, died of bone marrow cancer and now was looked after by Lord Louis. Philip now attended Gordonstoun school in Scotland.

The Prince finished school in 1939 and completed a term as a cadet at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. “He graduated from Dartmouth the next year as the best cadet in his course.” Philip served in the British forces during World War Two. He was mentioned in dispatches for his service during the battle of Cape Matapan and was awarded the Greek War Cross. At 21 years of age, Prince Philip was one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy. The Prince returned to the United Kingdom in January, 1946, and became an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur (the Petty Officers’ School in Corsham, Wiltshire).

In 1939, Philip and Elizabeth met when the King and Queen toured the Royal Navy College (Dartmouth), and Philip was asked to “escort the King’s two daughters.” Philip and Elizabeth were 3rd cousins through Queen Victoria, and 2nd cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark. The young couple started to exchange letters and Elizabeth fell in love with Philip. She was only 13 years of age.

In 1946, the Prince asked King George VI for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The King granted Philip’s request but asked for the formal engagement to be delayed until Elizabeth was 21, the following April. In 1947, Prince Philip abandoned his Greek and Danish Royal titles and adopted the surname Mountbatten, and also became a naturalized British subject. The young couple’s engagement was announced on 10th July, 1947. Philip was now ‘officially’ received into the Church of England (October 1947).

The King bestowed the style of Royal Highness on Philip and made him the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich, on the morning of the wedding. Philip and Elizabeth married on 20th November, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. The wedding was broadcast by BBC radio to 200 million people worldwide.

The young, married couple lived in Clarence House and their first 2 children were born --- Prince Charles, 1948, and Princess Anne, 1950. Today, Philip and Elizabeth’s marriage was the longest of any British monarch --- 73 years!

After the honeymoon, Prince Philip returned to the Navy in a desk job at the Admiralty, and later he went on a staff course at the Naval Staff College, Greenwich. From 1949, the couple were ‘stationed’ in Malta and in 1952, Philip was promoted to Commander (his active naval career ended in July, 1951).

The King became seriously ill so Philip and Elizabeth took on more ‘Royal Duties.’ The couple set out on a tour of the Commonwealth and on 6th February, 1952, when the couple were in Kenya, Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, died and she became Queen of England.

Elizabeth ascended to the throne and, as Queen, she announced that her husband was to have “place, pre-eminence and precedence” next to her “on all occasions and in all meetings, except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament.” In a speech during her Diamond Jubilee in 2021, the Queen referred to Philip as her “constant strength and guide.” Elizabeth and Philip had a very strong and close marriage.

As Prince Consort, Philip supported his wife, the new Queen, in her duties --- accompanying Elizabeth to ceremonies (the State Opening of Parliament, for example), various countries, state dinners and tours. Although Philip was not crowned during the Coronation, he was the first to kneel before the beautiful new Queen, and swore to be her “liege man of life and limb.”

In 1956, the Duke founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards which gave young people “a sense of responsibility to themselves and their communities. In the same year, Philip established the Commonwealth Study Conferences. In 1956 to 1957, the Prince travelled the world aboard the newly commissioned HMY Britannia, during which he opened the Summer Olympics in Melbourne and visited the Antarctic. The Queen, with their children, stayed in England.

Philip was appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada (1957) and took his Oath of Allegiance before the Queen at her Canadian residence, Rideau Hall. While in Canada, in 1969, Philip spoke about his views on ‘republicanism’: “It is a complete misconception to imagine that the monarchy exists in the interest of the monarchy. It doesn’t. It exists in the interests of the people. If at any time any nation decides that the system is unacceptable, then it is up to them to change it.” Prince Philip was the first member of the Royal family to be interviewed on television when he appeared on Panorama to answer questions by Richard Dimbleby about the Commonwealth Technical Training Week (an initiative of which he was a patron).

The Duke of Edinburgh was patron of 800 organizations --- his main focus was on the environment, industry, sport and education.

When Diana (the late Princess of Wales and Prince Charles ex-wife) was killed on a car crash, Philip and Elizabeth “shielded” their grandsons, Princes William and Harry, and Philip encouraged the young boys to walk behind their mother’s bier on the day of her funeral: “If I walk, will you walk with me?”

In 2009, the Prince became the longest-serving British Royal Consort and the oldest-ever male British Royal in February, 2013.

In 2011, the Queen gave her husband the title Lord High Admiral for his 90th birthday.

During his later years, Philip suffered with various health issues and retired from Royal Duty on 2nd August, 2017. His final solo public engagement was with the Royal Marines when Philip was 96 years of age. Since 1952, Philip has completed 22,219 solo engagements!

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died on 9th April, 2021, at Windsor Castle. He was 99 years of age. His wife (the Queen) was at Philip’s side when he died, the Countess of Wessex (one of his daughter-in-laws) said that it was “so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went.”

Prince Philip had a very strong character, which he constantly needed during his life. Married with four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, his wife was (and still is) the Queen of England (2021). Philip kept his family together and united --- a ‘feat’ for any ordinary man without the pressures of the Royal life! We shall never forget this Prince’s sense of humour!