The Constant Prince
Philip’s life was filled with challenges, achievements, duty, humour and a deep love for his wife
At the age of 99, he was the oldest-ever male member of the British Royal Family in history, a stalwart of our times. And – more importantly – he was Queen Elizabeth II’s “constant strength and stay” throughout a marriage and reign of more than 60 years.
So British was he that it’s easy to forget that the Duke of Edinburgh was born a prince in another European country. Greek by birth, he was just a year old when he and his family – father Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, mother Princess Alice of Battenburg, and four elder sisters, Margarita, Theodora, Cecilie and Sophie – were exiled from the country when his uncle lost his throne.
It was a harsh start for an infant prince but helps explain his pragmatic “get on with it” approach to life. Separated at an early age from his mother, who suffered mental health problems, he spent his formative years in France, Germany and Britain, finishing his education at Gordonstoun
School before joining the Royal Navy in 1939.
Princess Elizabeth may have been just 13 when she met the handsome young cadet over a game of croquet at Dartmouth, but she knew her own mind. The pair corresponded throughout the war, when Philip served in the British Forces, becoming one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy and earning mentions in despatches as well as the Greek War Cross of Valour.
But it wasn’t all pomp and glory for the young sailor – his duties included stoking the boilers of the troop transport ship RMS Empress of Russia. His willingness to tackle less lofty tasks stood him in good stead for a life in which he was always one step behind his wife – in public at least.
Married in 1947, by 1952 they had two children, Charles and Anne. Elizabeth and Philip were on the Kenyan leg of a Commonwealth tour when the sad duty fell to him to break the news to Elizabeth that her father had died and she was now Queen. He was first to proclaim his allegiance and kiss her hand at her Coronation.
In public the Queen wore the tiara but in private it was Philip who wore the trousers – though he didn’t always get his own way! Having taken British citizenship in 1947 and adopted the name Mountbatten – his uncle was Earl Louis Mountbatten, later to die in a terrorist attack in Ireland – he complained that he was “the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children”.
But he had a full say in their upbringing, decreeing that Charles should follow in his footsteps at Gordonstoun. It’s alleged that Philip could be brusque with his children Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, especially his eldest son who was certainly more sensitive than he was.
However happy family home-made films from the 50s and 60s portray a gentle side to his nature, too, as he pushes Charles around in a pedal car or bends lovingly over Prince
Edward in his pram. His mother, too, found a loving home with her son until her death in 1969.
Though Prince Philip left the Navy in 1952, he certainly wasn’t idle. He supported the Queen in state duties and involved himself in a number of worthwhile causes – most notably the World Wildlife Fund. In 1956, he founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – 65 years on, young people aged 14 to 24 all over the Commonwealth still participate, developing “a sense of responsibility to themselves and their communities”.
Like the Queen, he was a keen horseman, playing polo and participating in the sport of carriage driving; he enjoyed yachting and flew helicopters. He also loved painting – an interest and skill he passed on to his son, Charles.
At the age of 90, in 2011, he stated his intention of slowing down, saying that he had “done his bit”.
Thankfully for the Queen and country, Prince Philip was joking to the last, continuing to appear at his wife’s side and at royal engagements of his own well into his 90s.
A consort, husband, father, naval hero, sportsman and philanthropist – Philip was all those things, but what many of us will remember him for is his keen sense of humour. Though some saw some of his remarks as offensive, most recipients saw the funny side.
As the Queen herself has a keen sense of humour, one can only imagine the fun and laughter they must have shared through their long and happy marriage. He will be sadly missed by us all.