9 April 2021: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh passed away
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at Windsor Castle on
9 April 2021.
Who was Prince Philip?
Source picture: Book Cover
Family
Prince Philip was born on 10 June 1921 at Mon Repos on Corfu
in Greece. More about Mon Repos on this link.
in Greece. More about Mon Repos on this link.
His parents were Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and
Princess Alice of Battenberg.
His paternal grandparents were King George I of Greece and
Olga Constantinovna of Russia.
Olga Constantinovna of Russia.
His maternal grandparents were Prince Louis of Battenberg and
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.
Prince Philip was a member of the House of Glücksburg and
later a member of the House of Mountbatten.
later a member of the House of Mountbatten.
Education
Prince Philip first went to The Elms, an American school in Paris run
by Donald MacJannet.
by Donald MacJannet.
In 1928, Philip went to the United Kingdom to attend Cheam School,
where he lived with his maternal grandmother, Victoria Mountbatten,
Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven at Kensington Palace and
his uncle George Mountbatten, 2nd. Marques of Milford Haven at
Lynden Manor in Bray Berkshire.
where he lived with his maternal grandmother, Victoria Mountbatten,
Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven at Kensington Palace and
his uncle George Mountbatten, 2nd. Marques of Milford Haven at
Lynden Manor in Bray Berkshire.
His father took up residence in Monte Carlo. Philip had little contact
with his mother for the rest of his childhood.
with his mother for the rest of his childhood.
In 1933 he was sent to Schloss Salem school in Germany. It was owned
by the family of his brother-in-law, Berthold, Margrave of Baden.
by the family of his brother-in-law, Berthold, Margrave of Baden.
Salem's Jewish founder, Kurt Kahn fled to the United Kingdom and
he founded Gordonstoun School in Scotland, to which Philip moved after
two terms at Salem.
he founded Gordonstoun School in Scotland, to which Philip moved after
two terms at Salem.
After leaving Gordonstoun in 1939, Philip completed his term as cadet at the
Royal Naval college in Dartmouth. After this he went to Greece to live with
his mother in Athens for a month. Later he returned to Britain to resume his
training for the Royal Navy. He finished school in 1940.
Royal Naval college in Dartmouth. After this he went to Greece to live with
his mother in Athens for a month. Later he returned to Britain to resume his
training for the Royal Navy. He finished school in 1940.
War
During the Second World War, Philip continued to serve in the British forces,
while two of his brothers-in-law, Prince Christoph of Hesse and Berthold,
Margrave of Baden fought on the opposite side.
while two of his brothers-in-law, Prince Christoph of Hesse and Berthold,
Margrave of Baden fought on the opposite side.
In January 1940, Philip was appointed as a midshipman. He spent four months
on the Battleship HLS Ramillies, protecting convoys of the Australian
Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean. this was followed by shorter postings
on the HMS Kent, the HMS Shropshire and in Ceylon.
on the Battleship HLS Ramillies, protecting convoys of the Australian
Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean. this was followed by shorter postings
on the HMS Kent, the HMS Shropshire and in Ceylon.
On 1 February 1941, Philip was appointed as sub-lieutenant after a series of
courses in Portsmouth, in which he gained the top grade in four out of five
sections of the qualifying examination.
courses in Portsmouth, in which he gained the top grade in four out of five
sections of the qualifying examination.
Philip was involved in the Battle of Crete and the Battle of Cape Matapan. He
was also rewarded with the Greek War Cross.
was also rewarded with the Greek War Cross.
In June 1942, he was appointed to the V and W-class destroyer and flotilla leader
of the HMS Wallace, which was involved in convoy escort tasks on the east coast
of Britain as well as the Allied invasion of Sicily.
of the HMS Wallace, which was involved in convoy escort tasks on the east coast
of Britain as well as the Allied invasion of Sicily.
On 16 July 1942, Philip was promoted to lieutenant. In October of the same year,
he became First Lieutenant of the HMS Wallace. Then he was one of the youngest
first lieutenants at the Royal Navy.
he became First Lieutenant of the HMS Wallace. Then he was one of the youngest
first lieutenants at the Royal Navy.
He was present in Tokyo Bay when the instrument of the Japanese surrender was
signed. Philip returned to the United Kingdom on the whelp in January 1946. He
was posted as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur in Corsham Wiltshire.
signed. Philip returned to the United Kingdom on the whelp in January 1946. He
was posted as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur in Corsham Wiltshire.
Source picture: Wikipedia
Marriage
In 1939, King George VI and queen Elizabeth toured the Royal Naval College
in Darthmouth. During the visit, the Queen and Louis Mountbatten asked his
nephew Philip to escort the King's two daughters. Elizabeth fell in love with
Philip and they began to exchange letters when she was 13.
in Darthmouth. During the visit, the Queen and Louis Mountbatten asked his
nephew Philip to escort the King's two daughters. Elizabeth fell in love with
Philip and they began to exchange letters when she was 13.
In the summer of 1946, Philip asked the King for his daughter's hand in
marriage. The King granted his request, but the formal engagement had to be
delayed till Elizabeth was 21 years old.
marriage. The King granted his request, but the formal engagement had to be
delayed till Elizabeth was 21 years old.
In March 1947, Philip had abandoned his Greek and Danish royal titles and he
had adopted the surname Mountbatten from his mother's family. He became a
British subject too. The engagement was announced to the public on 10 July 1947.
had adopted the surname Mountbatten from his mother's family. He became a
British subject too. The engagement was announced to the public on 10 July 1947.
Philip and Elizabeth were married at Westminster Abbey. This ceremony was
recorded and broadcasted by BBC radio to 200 million people around the world.
recorded and broadcasted by BBC radio to 200 million people around the world.
Philip's German relatives were not invited at the wedding.
After their wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh took up residence at
Clarence House.
Clarence House.
On 21 July 1948, Philip was introduced to the House of Lords. He never spoke
in the House.
in the House.
After their Honeymoon, Philip returned to the navy. From 1949 he was stationed
in Malta.
in Malta.
At the end of January 1952, Philip and his wife set out on a tour of the
Commonwealth. On 6 February 1952, they were in Kenya when Elizabeth's father
died and she became queen.
Commonwealth. On 6 February 1952, they were in Kenya when Elizabeth's father
died and she became queen.
Source picture: Wikipedia
Duty
After her accession to the throne, the Queen also announced that the Duke was
to have place pre-eminence and precedence next to her on all occasions and in
all meetings except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament.
to have place pre-eminence and precedence next to her on all occasions and in
all meetings except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament.
Prince Philip attended the Parliament only when escorting the Queen for the
annual State Opening of Parliament where he walks and sits besides her.
annual State Opening of Parliament where he walks and sits besides her.
They were rumours but the Queen and the Duke would have had a strong
relationship throughout their marriage. Prince Philip received a Parliamentary
annuity that serves to meet official expenses in carrying on out public duties.
relationship throughout their marriage. Prince Philip received a Parliamentary
annuity that serves to meet official expenses in carrying on out public duties.
Philip was a patron of some 800 organisations, particularly focused on the
environment, industry, sport and education. He also served as the UK president
of the World Wildlife Fund from 1961 till 1982.
environment, industry, sport and education. He also served as the UK president
of the World Wildlife Fund from 1961 till 1982.
Hospital
Prince Philip was often at the hospital inter alia in:
- 2008 to King Edward VII's hospital in London (chest infection);
Philip would have had prostate cancer, but Buckingham Palace denied these
rumours.
rumours.
On 23 December 2011 the Duke suffered chest pains and he was taken to the
cardio-thoracic unit at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgheshire, where he
underwent a successful coronary angioplasty and stenting.
cardio-thoracic unit at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgheshire, where he
underwent a successful coronary angioplasty and stenting.
On 4 June 2012 he was taken to the King Edward VII's Hospital suffering
from a bladder infection.
from a bladder infection.
In June 2013, Philip was admitted to the London Clinic for an exploratory
operation on his abdomen.
operation on his abdomen.
Retirement
On 2 August 2018, Prince Philip retired from his royal duties, meeting
Royal Marines in his final solo public engagement at the age of 96.
Royal Marines in his final solo public engagement at the age of 96.
Since 1952 he had completed 22,219 solo engagements. Prime Minister
Theresa May thanked him for a remarkable lifetime of service.
Theresa May thanked him for a remarkable lifetime of service.
Hospital (2)
On 3 April 2018, Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII's hospital
for a planned hip replacement.
for a planned hip replacement.
From 20 till 24 December 2019, Philip stayed at King Edward VII's hospital
and he received a treatment for a pre-existing condition. It was according to
Buckingham Palace as a "precautionary measure."
and he received a treatment for a pre-existing condition. It was according to
Buckingham Palace as a "precautionary measure."
On 9 January 2021, Philip and the Queen were vaccinated against COVID-19 by
a household doctor at Windsor Castle.
a household doctor at Windsor Castle.
On 16 February 2021, Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII's hospital
as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell.
as a precautionary measure after feeling unwell.
He underwent a successful procedure for his heart condition on 3 March 2021 and he
was discharged from the hospital on 16 March 2021.
was discharged from the hospital on 16 March 2021.
Death
On 9 April 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle
at the age of 99. He was the longest-living and serving royal consort in
British history.
at the age of 99. He was the longest-living and serving royal consort in
British history.
May he rest in peace!
The pages Descendants of Queen Victoria, Great-Great Grandchildren and
Royal families in Germany are adapted.
Royal families in Germany are adapted.
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