At 96, Prince Philip soldiers on in final solo official duty in rain

LONDON — For over 65 years, he has been the unwavering presence alongside Britain’s longestserving monarch, the consummate consort and royal representative.

On Wednesday, Prince Philip, 96, made his 22,219th — and final — solo public engagement, braving heavy rain to meet Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace. He appeared in good spirits, waving to cheering crowds and joking with the soldiers, who have completed a 1,664-mile trek to raise money for charity.

“You all should be locked up,” he quipped, making the soldiers laugh.

Philip announced he was stepping down from public duties in May. Also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, he will still appear at Queen Elizabeth II’s side. The queen supported the decision.

The palace says health wasn’t behind retirement decision.

Wednesday’s event marks a major landmark for the man born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in Corfu on June 10, 1921, to Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece. Amid the upheaval of the military coup that overthrew his uncle, King Constantine, in 1922, the family fled. his the

Philip joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939 and served during World War II. He rose to the level of commander.

Two years after the war ended, Philip married the future queen at Westminster Abbey when she was 21 and he was 26. He renounced his Greek title and King George VI made him the Duke of Edinburgh.

At the queen’s coronation in 1953, Philip swore to be his wife’s “liege man of life and limb.”

He settled into a life supporting Elizabeth in her role as queen and they had four children — Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.