HRH Duke of Edinburgh – Husband of the Queen
Biography of Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark
Aug 20, 2009
Born in Corfu in 1921, Prince Philip was educated in England, Germany and Scotland. The tall, handsome Naval Lieutenant caught the eye of the young Princess Elizabeth and married her in 1947. Since the Coronation, he has spent the last 60 odd years walking one pace behind his wife and has courted controversy with some of his remarks. But he’s also done some sterling work for Britain.
Prince Philip of Greece’s Early Years
The Duke of Edinburgh’s father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and his mother was Princess Alice, the eldest daughter of the first Marquis of Milford Haven and great granddaughter to Queen Victoria. His father was a grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. The Prince was despatched to England when he was quite young to live with his mother’s extended family.
He was educated at Cheam – one of the oldest private schools in England and then sent, in 1933 at age 12, to a school in Germany. However, the Nazi rise to power forced the school’s principal to move to Scotland where he opened the renowned Gordonstoun School. The young Prince Philip went with him.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Naval Career
At 18, the same year he first met the young Princess Elizabeth, Philip joined the Royal Navy. He excelled in his training at the Royal Naval College and won two awards. He spent World War II on active service and was on a ship in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered in 1945. In 1953, he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet and appointed Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
The Prince should have had British nationality to join the Royal Navy, but this requirement was waived due to his status and the outbreak of war. However, in 1947, he was granted British citizenship. This means he technically lost his title of Prince. As the Greek and Danish Royal families had no surname, he took his mother’s family surname and became known as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten RN.
Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten Marries Princess Elizabeth
On November 19,1947, the eve of his wedding to Princess Elizabeth, her father, King George VI, decreed that Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten would henceforth be known as His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. The next day, the new Duke married his Princess at Westminster Abbey at 11.30 a.m. with great pomp and ceremony.
The coronation of the Queen in 1953 meant that the Duke’s active Naval career was somewhat curtailed because of his royal duties. However, this did not mean that he just sat back and relaxed in the luxuries of palaces and state dinners. He has been involved with a variety of organisations over the last 60 years – including the Automobile Association and the Royal Society of Arts.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and Other Interests
In 1956, the Duke set up DofE – the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme for boys and in 1958, girls were allowed to join. The scheme is open to people between the ages of 14 and 24 and has three programme levels where activities are undertaken in the four fields of volunteering, physical, skill and expedition. The gold programme includes a residential element. Further information can be found at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website.
Although now in his eighties, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is still very active and takes his royal duties very seriously. The official website of the British Monarchy says that in 2008 he attended over 350 public engagements and is patron or president of about 800 organisations. It also says he has special interests in the environment, conservation and young people.
Other sources:
TheTimes Ditigal Archive
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