Profile of Prince Philip

Title: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Full Name: Philip Mountbatten
Father: Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
Mother: Princess Alice of Battenberg
Relation to Elizabeth II: Husband
Born: June 10, 1921 at Villa Mon Repos, Corfu, Greece
Current Age: 91 years, 4 months and 9 days
Married: Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey
Children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward

Philip was born Philippos Prince of Greece and Denmark on the Greek Island of Corfu in 1921. His father was Prince Andrew, younger brother of King Constantine of Greece, and his mother Princess Alice of Battenberg. He is a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria though his mother’s family. The monarchy of Greece was overthrown in 1922, and George V sent a Royal Navy ship HMS Calypso to rescue them. The one-year old Philip was carried to safety in an orange box. The family lived in Paris but his parents’ marriage broke up and Philip went to school in England, Germany and then Gordonstoun in Scotland where he was head of the school cricket and hockey teams and became head boy. Princess Elizabeth and Philip first met when they attended the wedding of Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece to The Duke of Kent, who was an uncle of Princess Elizabeth, in 1934.

Philip joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and attended Dartmouth college where as a cadet Philip of Greece he showed round then 13 years old Princess Elizabeth. He saw active service in WW2 in the Mediterranean taking part in the Allied invasion of Sicily, and with the British Pacific fleet was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender was signed. He returned to Britain in 1946 and served as a staff officer at Greenwich Naval College. In 1947 he became a naturalised British subject, and adopted the surname Mountbatten, the anglicised version of his mother’s name of Battenberg . He converted from Greek Orthodox to the Anglican religion, and renounced his allegiance to the Greek crown.

The engagement between Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten RN was announced on the 9 July 1947 and they were married in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. The day before his wedding, King George VI titled his future son-in-law Philip Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich, of Greenwich in the County of London. The ceremony recorded by the BBC was hugely popular and brought a ray of sunshine to the otherwise austere life of post-war Britain. His three surviving sisters who had married German aristocrats were not invited to the wedding. Following their honeymoon the Prince resumed his career in the Navy and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh lived in Malta.

In February 1952 they were in Kenya staying at Tree Tops hotel during a tour of the Commonwealth when news came of the death of the Princess’s father King George VI. They returned to Britain for the Princess to take up her new role as Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip as consort. He resigned from the Royal Navy, and has since supported the Queen for over 60 years, with numerous royal duties, state visits and occasions. Known for his sometimes blunt naval manner and plain speaking, he has fulfilled a difficult role with loyalty and dedication. In addition to his royal duties, the Duke of Edinburgh is also the patron of many organisations, including The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the World Wide Fund for Nature, and he is Chancellor of both the University of Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh. His interests have included flying, sailing, polo, carriage driving and shooting. He celebrated his 90th birthday on 10th June 2011 and continues to carry out many official duties and engagements in support of the Queen and the many charities and organisations of which is a patron.

Prince Philip's Signature

© 1992 Allan Warren

HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of EdinburghWho: Prince Philip was christened as a Prince of Greece and Denmark. He was the only son in a family of four girls and the youngest child of Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece.
His Story: The Duke of Edinburgh is descended from royalty on both sides of his family. His mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. His paternal side is of Danish descent: Philip’s father, Prince Andrew, was the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark.
Prince Philip began his schooling in Europe, but was sent to England to attend Cheam Preparatory School in 1928. He left at age 12 to spend a year at Salem School in Germany, run by Kurt Hahn and Prince Max of Baden.
With the anti-Jewish sentiments brewing in the run-up to World War II, Hahn left Germany and went to Scotland, where he founded Gordonstoun. Philip greatly admired Hahn and followed him to Scotland where he attended the new boarding school, built on the same principals of Salem.
Spartan but enriching, Philip flourished in the environment that Gordonstoun provided, and in turn would eventually send all three of his sons.
The regimented school was just what Philip needed. The future Duke grew up in what is now called a “broken” home. Prince Andrew, seeing his daughters securely married, ran off with his mistress. Princess Alice had a nervous breakdown and was sent for treatment in Switzerland. Philip bounced around from relative to relative, unable to find a stationary home in the wake of his parents’ separation.
He finally found a secure personal life with his uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten. Louis was
Alice’s brother, a charming and ingratiating man who was intent on getting Philip married into a good (and preferably wealthy) family. Back in England, Philip enlisted in the Royal Navy, where he found his niche, and before Mountbatten could do much in the way of matchmaking, World War Two broke out. Philip was posted overseas on active duty.
Philip did manage to correspond with England’s Princess Elizabeth, whom he met at Darmouth Naval College during a royal inspection by her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Princess Elizabeth was 13 years old at the time, and Philip was just 18. He treated the princess and her younger sister Margaret as siblings, but Elizabeth felt differently. She immediately developed a crush on the handsome blond Philip. Margaret began to tease her ceaselessly, especially when Elizabeth placed a framed photo of Philip, avec beard, in her room.
Mountbatten was thrilled at the prospect of his nephew having a romance with the heir to the British throne. He decided to bide his time, as Elizabeth was still far too young for an engagement, and instead dropped little hints here and there to the King.
George was wary. He had known Mountbatten since childhood, and Louis’ reputation for scheming was legendary. Philip was just a rough-and-tumble lad with a good heart but had none of the qualities of a gentleman. The King was also very protective of his ‘Lilibet’ and did not want her to marry anyone who would not treat her well.
When the war was finally over, Philip went to England and was urged by his uncle Mountbatten to ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. The King and Queen were still a little wary, but Philip had presented himself to them several times over the years whenever he had leave. His sense of humor and good nature began to grow on the royal couple. Queen Mary, the King’s mother, also had a hand in convincing them that Philip would make a good partner for Elizabeth. When asked what kind of son-in-law he would make for a king, the dowager Queen replied curtly in Philip’s defense: “Useful”.
To marry Elizabeth, Philip made the decision to renounce his Greek citizenship, royal title, and religion. He instead became a part of the Anglican Church of England and obtained British citizenship. To cap it all off, Philip changed his name to Mountbatten, his uncle’s Anglicized surname. Instead of marrying Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, Elizabeth would now be wedded simply to the more English-sounding Philip Mountbatten, RN.
His future father-in-law, King George VI, conferred on Philip the titles of Baron Greenwich, Earl of Merioneth, and his more commonly known title, Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince Philip was teased as “Phil the Greek” in the media and in aristocratic circles. It irked some of the nobility that he had been given the title of His Royal Highness. They pointed out that Dukes not born of royal blood should be referred to as ‘His Grace’ only.
Eventually the remarks died down. The press and public began to realize just how right Queen Mary was, as Prince Philip has been Elizabeth’s most trusted adviser and confidant for over 60 years.
Side Note: The Duke of Edinburgh was the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television. The interview took place in May 1961 when Prince Philip was interviewed by
Richard Dimbleby.
The Details
Date of Birth: June 10th, 1921

Education: Cheam Preparatory School/Salem School; Gordonstoun

Residence: Buckingham Palace, London