Spotlight on Prince Philip’s first personal car at Galle Face Hotel
The death this week of 99 year-old Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth, has brought the spotlight back on a car parked on permanent display at the Galle Face Hotel museum.
The restored silver and black Standard 9 car is reported to be Prince Philip’s first personal car, bought while he was a 19-year-old midshipman or naval cadet stationed in then Ceylon during World War II. The registration information reveals the owner to be Prince Philip of Greece.
The late Cyril Gardiner, a former chairman of the Galle Face Hotel, bought the car. His son Sanjeev, the present chairman, refurbished it and put it on display. Prince Philip visited Sri Lanka twice since the car was purchased and viewed it on both occasions.
Prince Philip served with HMS Ramilies, a Royal Navy ship stationed in Colombo in 1940. HMS Ramilies escorted Australian transport vessels to the Mediterranean. He later served in HMS Kent and HMS Shropshire, County Class destroyers on a shore station in Ceylon, reports say. Once, the Duke was sent to Trincomalee to assist a naval team surveying the harbour, these reports also say. He bought the second-hand Standard 9 car in Colombo and drove himself to Trincomalee and back.
The "Little Nine" was a family car produced by the British Standard Motor Company between 1930 and 1933. It was said to be relatively expensive compared to its peers but became popular among the upper echelons of society.
The Royal Family has opened an online Book of Condolence on its website for those who wish to send a personal message. Contrary to usual practice, Books of Condolence will not be available for the public to sign, including at the British High Commission in Colombo, owing to COVID-19 restrictions.