Prince was the gruff figure at heart of monarchy
A BLUNT-SPEAKING naval officer who as Queen Elizabeth’s dutiful consort helped modernise the British monarchy, Prince Philip might be best remembered for his gruff public persona.
Outspoken and irascible, Philip lived in the shadow of the woman he married at Westminster Abbey in 1947 and always walked a step behind the queen at ceremonial events they attended during her reign, the longest in British history.
Although he had no official role, Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was one of the most influential figures in the royal family for more than 70 years. He died aged 99 on Friday.
While Philip was often criticised for his demeanour and sometimes brusque remarks, friends said that as Queen Elizabeth II’S closest confidant he brought wit, impatient intelligence and unflagging energy to the monarchy.
“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years,” Elizabeth said in a personal tribute to Philip during a speech to mark their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.
“I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Often facing a deeply traditional court, Philip reformed the palace. He pushed for the queen’s coronation in 1953 to be televised live and behind the scenes removed outdated behaviour in the palace he regarded as stuffy. He was the first royal to do a TV interview.
Philippos Schleswig-holstein Sonderburg-glücksburg was born on a dining room table on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921, the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece. His parents went into exile when he was 18 months old.
Philip had British and German blood through his mother, a great grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. She was born Princess Alice of Battenberg and became a nun after drifting apart from her husband, who died virtually penniless in 1944.
Philip lived his early life on the move around Europe. He was educated at Gordonstoun and became a naturalised British citizen, looking and sounding every bit the English gentleman. But to his detractors he remained “Phil the Greek”.
Philip joined the Royal Naval College in 1939. He served in warships during World War II, was mentioned in dispatches, took part in the Allied landings in Sicily and was in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered in 1945.
He and Elizabeth first met at the wedding of Philip’s cousin in 1934. They were married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947, in a ceremony attended by statesmen and royalty from around the world.
He continued his naval career until 1951, then took leave and devoted himself full-time to public duties when Elizabeth became queen a year later.
Despite rumours about his infidelity, the couple stayed together and in old age they clearly enjoyed an affection and regard for each other. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November 2017.
The couple have four children: Charles, Prince of Wales (born in 1948), Princess Anne (1950), Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964).
In August 2017 he retired from active public life altogether.