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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Prince Philip
In a statement on April 9, 2021, the Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”
“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was best known for his somewhat gruff demeanor, naughty sense of humor, and occasional off-color gaffes. But he also faithfully served the British people and supported his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, since she took the throne 69 years ago—the longest reign in British royal history and the fourth-longest in the world.
When she became the monarch back in 1952, Prince Philip admits he was unsure of his role. “There was no precedent. I’ve asked somebody, ‘What do you expect me to do?’ They all looked blank. They had no idea,” he told the BBC in his 90th birthday interview. Having passed away on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99, it seems he figured it out. Let’s take a look at some little-known facts and accomplishments of Prince Philip. Then, take a look through these photos of Prince Philip’s life.
He was the longest-serving consort in British royal history
Prince Philip didn’t retire until he was 96 years old—30 years after the usual age of retirement for most people. As the longest-serving “consort” (spouse of the monarch) ever, Prince Philip undertook 22,191 official solo engagements and gave 5,493 speeches during his career. Joking that he is the “world’s most experienced plaque unveiler,” Prince Philip also championed many important causes including scientific research, industry, and the environment. Even after his retirement, he continued as a member of 780 organizations. When told by a well-wisher, “I’m sorry you’re standing down,” the cheeky prince replied, “Well I can’t stand up much longer!” If you’re wondering, here’s the real reason why Prince Philip wasn’t “King Philip.”
Prince Philip wasn’t born a British subject
Queen Elizabeth II and her late consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had come to represent Britain itself in the 69 years she has been on the throne. But the Queen might not want you to know that her husband isn’t exactly British—at least he wasn’t until he married her. Before he was the Duke of Edinburgh, the young Philip was Prince of Greece and Denmark, nephew of the Greek king, and born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921.
He was not a British citizen, although his ancestry could be traced to multiple countries including Germany and England. “If anything, I’ve thought of myself as Scandinavian, particularly Danish,” he said in a 1992 interview. Although we may think of him as the quintessential English gentleman, he only renounced his titles and became a British citizen, choosing the name Philip Mountbatten, in preparation to marry then-Princess Elizabeth. These 16 rarely seen photos of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are proof he made the right choice.
He wasn’t the oldest British royal family member ever
Although he lived to be near 100, Prince Philip didn’t beat the record for the oldest British royal family member in history. That honor belongs to Princess Alice, the wife of Queen Elizabeth’s uncle (her father’s younger brother, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester). She died in 2004 at the age of 102. Queen Elizabeth’s mother, also called Queen Elizabeth and known as the Queen Mother, was very long-lived as well and was the first royal family member to make it to 100.
She died in 2002 at the age of 101. But, Prince Philip was the oldest male British royal family member in history. All three of the longest-lived royals entered the family by marriage; the oldest British royal by descent was another Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter who died in 1981 at the age of 97. And yes, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are secretly related.
He had a turbulent childhood
In chin-up British fashion, the Queen and her husband weren’t very open about Prince Philip’s difficult early years. When the Greek royal family was ousted, his family fled the country with baby Philip lodged in a fruit crate. After settling in exile in France, Philip’s family went through more changes: His older sisters married and moved away, his father left, and his mother, who suffered from mental illness, entered a psychiatric hospital. “My mother was ill, my sisters were married, my father was in the south of France—I just had to get on with it,” the BBC reports he said. Young Philip was shuttled off to boarding schools in England, Germany, and Scotland for the rest of his childhood.
This food is off his menu
Prince Philip enjoyed rather simple food, and flat-out disliked a certain delicacy: oysters. According to Dinner at Buckingham Palace, written by royal servant Charles Oliver, “inevitably there are one or two things the Queen and her husband do not like, and the hosts are duly warned in advance. The palace instruction states only: ‘Neither the Queen nor the Duke of Edinburgh like oysters.'” Prince Philip also prefers a gin and tonic or lager to fancy champagne.
But, the Duke was a somewhat adventurous eater compared to his wife. “Prince Philip was the foodie,” former royal chef Darren McGrady told Hello!. “He’d want to try any new dishes all the time and got excited about new ingredients.” Find out other bizarre eating habits of the royal family, according to their personal chef.
and as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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