ROYALLY MISSED
PRINCE Philip sadly passed away in 2021, leaving an incredible legacy behind him.
The Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle surrounded by his family and his beloved wife, the late Queen.
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How old was Prince Philip when he died?
Prince Philip's last birthday was on June, 2020, where he turned 99.
He would have hit a significant milestone this year when he turned 100 after being born in 1921 in Greece.
The Duke of Edinburgh passed away at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen has announced 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. Further announcements will made in due course.
"The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."
What's his background?
Prince Philip was married to the Queen for more than 70 years.
His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, while his mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg.
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Philip was born on June 10, 1921, in Corfu, Greece, but his family was exiled when he was just a child.
Raised in the UK, he was also educated in France and Germany, later joining the Navy and serving in World War II.
A keen sports' fan, he has been involved in a number of events including developing the equestrian event of carriage driving.
He has also been the patron of hundreds of organisations, often attending events with the Queen as part of their royal duties.
Prince Philip memorial: Tearful Queen bids emotional farewell to beloved husband as royals honour Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh formally retired on August 2, 2017, bowing out with a parade of Royal Marine commandos at Buckingham Palace.
Before his death he took more of a back seat role, although he occasionally appeared alongside other royals at public events.
What was Prince Philip's real name?
Prince Philip's birth name was Philippos Schleswig-Holstein Sonderburg-Glucksburg.
After his family were exiled from Greece he became a naturalised British subject and adopted his grandparents' surname, Mountbatten.
He was persuaded to use this name, which was an anglicised version of his mother’s maiden name, by his uncle and mentor, Louis Mountbatten.
At this time he also shortened his name to Philip. Before marrying the Queen, he was known as Philip Mountbatten.
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Why wasn't Prince Philip king?
The reason for Philip not becoming King when he married the Queen stems from a parliamentary law. The law relating to succession doesn't relate to bloodline - only gender.
The spouse of a ruling king or queen is known as a consort. Strangely, in British royalty a man who marries the queen is known as the prince consort but a woman who marries the king will be the queen consort.
When Prince Philip married the Queen in 1947 he was also given three other titles:
- Duke of Edinburgh
- Earl of Merioneth
- Baron Greenwich
In 1957, the Queen made him an official Prince of the United Kingdom - which she made official in a new letters patent.
Were Philip and Elizabeth related?
As the son of the exiled Prince Andrew of Greece, Philip was a direct descendant of Queen Victoria.
This meant both Elizabeth and Philip were both great-great-grandchildren of Victoria.
Because of that the royal couple were third cousins.
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What was the Duke of Edinburgh's military rank?
Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy in 1939 when he was just 18.
He graduated from the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth before going on to serve in World War II.
Appointed a midshipman at the start of 1940, Philip served on the battleship HMS Ramillies, later being posted on HMS Kent and HMS Shropshire.
He was later commissioned as a sub-lieutenant before being promoted to lieutenant in July 1942.
Just months later, he became the first lieutenant of HMS Wallace - making him one of the youngest in that position in the Royal Navy at just 21 years old.
He ultimately reached the rank of commander in 1952.
Philip also holds a number of honorary ranks including Captain General of the Royal Marines.
He was appointed Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom in 2011.
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When did Prince Philip marry Queen Elizabeth?
Philip Mountbatten married Elizabeth II in 1947.
The pair had been writing to each other for years previously, having first met in 1934.
The couple became engaged after seeking permission from Elizabeth's father King George VI.
After a five-month engagement, the pair were married on November 20, 1947.
They have four children - Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - as well as eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The roles Prince Philip held
DURING his life Prince Philip was a patron of more than 800 organisations.
Some of the charities he worked alongside included:
- WWF
- Britain-Australia Society
- A Nature Trust
- Abbotsford Flying Club
- Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland
- BirdLife Australia
- Book Aid International
- Centre for Maritime Studies - Lisbon
- Charities Aid Foundation
- Formula Air Racing Association
- Ham Polo Club
- Hull Kung Fu
- London Metropolitan University
- London Rowing Club
- National Maritime Museum
- Radio Society of Great Britain