My children’s success? Nothing to do with me!
PRINCE PHILIP carries immense burdens, vast responsibilities and great influence wherever he goes. But he is also a family man. And so he faces the problems of any father.
For him and his children this has been a tremendous year. The Prince of Wales has won his RAF wings and is now serving with HMS Norfolk in the Mediterranean.
Princess Anne not only won the gruelling Burghley Horse Trials, she has become the first member of the Royal Family to be elected Sportswoman of the Year.
Here, in a world- exclusive interview, Philip talks about bringing up his children, the generation gap — and what the future holds for every parent...
AS A father, Philip admits to feeling ‘a certain pleasure and pride’ in the achievements of the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne.
But he adds: ‘ The achievements are theirs, not mine in any sense. If they were disasters I don’t think I would be keen to admit that it was my fault. Therefore, if they are successes, I don’t see why I should take credit for it.’
We talked in his private library, a room warm with the varied leather bindings of the books that cover two long walls.
He hasn’t made up his mind to what extent it is important for his children to achieve recognition outside their royal roles.
‘But I do look upon them as individuals in their own right,’ he said. ‘And, if one does have a special talent, it’s marvellous to make use of it in the right way.’
Danger, whether in the air or on horseback, does not worry him at all.
‘In the case of both the children I am convinced they have been properly instructed by people who appreciated the risks involved and have trained them not to put themselves in a position of hazard.’
His attitude to danger is linked with his belief that growing up ‘should be a period of cramming in as much experience of every kind of situation in the shortest possible time preferably in such a way that you don’t get too badly hurt at it, so that you can learn by your experience’.
‘But,’ he went on, ‘ you should never put people into a position of being exposed to experience beyond their capacity to survive it. We are still inclined to look upon education as merely an academic exercise in teaching the facts and laying down the principles.
‘I think young people have to learn about themselves. They need wider opportunities for experiment without having to do it by crime or mayhem or a sort of skulduggery.’
He has positive views also about the ‘generation gap’ which divides so many families today. ‘Education has become compulsory, and therefore, to a certain extent, has been taken out of the hands of parents. The other reason for the gap is that parents are living in a different environment from their children because things have changed so rapidly.
‘Until a few years ago people were born and lived without television, without jets. People who are now 20 or 30 have grown up wholly in this age.
‘I think this put them in a very difficult situation because it is not only the technical advances they have to live with, but also the education, moral and philosophical environments which have completely changed.
‘Of course, the older generation has always been critical of the younger one. You can find examples two or three thousand years ago of parents making much the same complaints about children that parents make today.
‘But the point is now that the young have actually got a case. They are not rebelling for the sake of rebelling, it is just that everything is changing.
‘I think it is probably more exciting to be young today because there are many more opportunities, so much more happening.’
He is optimistic, however, about the future and certain that time will narrow the present gap between parents and children.