No-nonsense Prince was Queen’s ‘strength & stay’ throughout her reign
The longest serving consort in British history was a constant source of support for the Queen
The Duke of Edinburgh - quizzical, witty and controversial - was the Queen’s greatest source of support, her confidant and the man she relied on above all others.
His lifelong role was to ensure that he never let her down and their long-lasting marriage was arguably one of the world’s best-known relationships.
Although he was not officially given the title of Prince Consort, Philip - a private, enigmatic man of strong character - was always there, one step behind, ready to lend the Queen a helping hand.
Through his stewardship, he had a profound effect on the development of the British monarchy.
In public, the duke never attempted to upstage the woman he loved. In private, it was Philip that the Queen would defer to.
At home, he assumed the position of head of the family as the royal patriarch.
The duke became the longest-serving consort in British history and the oldest serving partner of a reigning monarch, while his wife became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the world’s longest-reigning still-serving monarch.
Like his great-greatgrandfather Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Philip immersed himself in national life, yet managed to retain something of the sceptical spectator.
Some thought he was arrogant, rude and insensitive; others found him witty and fun.
He could be abrupt, outspoken and was not afraid of using colourful language. He was parodied for his badtempered outbursts and criticised for his famous gaffes.
Philip once warned a group of Scottish students in China that they would become “slitty-eyed”.
On another occasion, he pointed to a fusebox of loose wires in a Glasgow factory and remarked that it looked like it had been installed by an “Indian”.
He was well aware of his public image, once telling former Tory MP Gyles Brandreth: “I have become a caricature. There we are. I’ve just got to accept it.”
Philip was a forceful man, often portrayed as shorttempered and rather offhand in his manner.
Yet he had the ability to charm and could be relied upon to break the ice with his sense of humour and quick repartee.
The curious duke would ask endless questions while on engagements, grilling and challenging his hosts persistently.
He had the no-fuss, nononsense manner so often associated with his daughter, the Princess Royal.
He was once said to have described himself as “a discredited Balkan prince of no particular merit or distinction”.
Philip often received little public acclaim for his tireless charity work and support for the monarchy in difficult times.
He and the Queen witnessed the failure of three of their four children’s marriages and the fallout that followed, particularly the scandal surrounding Camilla Parker Bowles, who eventually married into The Firm.
The royal family also faced criticism for their response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
The duke was depicted as a tough, but caring father, amid speculation that his relationship with the Prince of Wales was not always the easiest.
But he guarded his privacy and refused to discuss such matters.
By almost any standard he was a remarkable character.
He had all the qualities which, even without his royal status, would have led him to the top.
He was a successful naval officer - there are those who believe that, had the duke not married Princess Elizabeth, he would have been First Sea Lord - and he was also an experienced pilot.
In his leisure moments he was a good shot, a first-class polo player, an accomplished sailor, enthusiastic cricketer and international four-inhand carriage driver.
His themes were many but he regularly returned to the prickly subject of the British economy and also conservation, one of his great passions.
He could speak with authority on industry, science and nature.
One of the duke’s most famous speeches was in 1961 when he told industrialists: “Gentlemen, I think it is time we pulled our fingers out.”
He often criticised exporters for not fighting hard enough for Britain abroad and hit out at the “I’m all right, Jack” society for not pulling its weight at home.
Even in later life, Philip was a modern man. He was always forward-thinking and often ahead of his time.
He was eating muesli 20 years before most people and drove around London in an electric car in an attempt to fight pollution.
Born at the family home, Mon Repos - allegedly on the kitchen table - on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10 1921, he was brought to Brit