Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh led a remarkable life for almost a century. His life was filled with several remarkable milestones, including his marriage into the British royal family, and fathering four royal kids.
It is quite difficult to fathom the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip spent ninety-nine years on earth before his passing in April 2019. Notably, the late Prince, who hailed from the royal family of Greece spent over seventy of those years as the ever-supportive husband of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Between his birth and death lies some of the remarkable highlights of this born royalty’s life.
THE BIRTH OF PRINCE PHILIP: 1921
On June 10, 1921, Prince Andrew of Greece, and his wife, Princess Alice of Battenberg welcomed their fifth child and only son. Prince Philip of Greece was born in Corfu, Greece.
PRINCE PHILIP LEAVES GREECE: 1922
A year after the prince’s birth, his family fled Greece following a coup d’etat. Their banishment led the young prince, his four elder sisters, and his parents to settle in Paris.
THE PRINCE IN ENGLAND:1928
At the age of seven, a young prince Philip relocated to England to reside with the Mountbattens, his distant relatives. While in England, he attended a school in Surrey.
PHILIP GOES TO GERMANY: 1933
Prince Philip enrolled at the Schule Schloss Salem in Germany when he turned thirteen. However, his stay in Germany was short-lived, as he later transferred to the Gordonstoun School, Scotland, leaving his sisters in Germany.
PRINCE PHILIP MEETS PRINCESS ELIZABETH: 1939
In 1939, Philip became a cadet at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth as the first echoes of World War II reverberated across regions.
While at the college, he met the young Princess Elizabeth, and her sister, Princess Margareth during their royal tour of the college. Prince Philip was charged with escorting the two young princesses through the facility.
A ROYAL LIEUTENANT: 1942
Prince Philip became one of the youngest full lieutenants in the Royal Navy. He served onboard the destroyer HMS Wallace through 1942.
THE GREEK PRINCE CATCHES PRINCESS ELIZABETH’S FANCY: 1943
Philip became a regular caller at the British royal family’s home and stayed at the palace a handful of times. Following one Christmas visit, Princess Elizabeth secured a photograph of him and positioned it on her dressing table.
PHILIP ASKS THE PRINCESS’ HAND IN MARRIAGE: 1946
In 1946, Prince Philip of Greece sought Princess Elizabeth’s hand in marriage from her father, King George. After getting approval to wed the princess, he renounced his Greek title, became a British citizen, and adopted his mom’s anglicized name, Mountbatten.
The royal couple announced their engagement on July 9, 1946.
THE ROYAL WEDDING: 1947
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth tied the knot on November 20, 1947, at the Westminster Abbey in London. A day to the wedding, King George VI bestowed the title: His Royal Highness on him.
The prince also assumed the appointment of the Duke of Edinburgh, Baron Greenwich, and Earl of Merioneth. Following the wedding, he moved to Malta with his new bride in line with his naval duties.
THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF FATHERHOOD: 1948
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth welcomed their first child, Prince Charles of Wales on November 14, 1948.
PRINCESS ANNE’S BIRTH: 1950
On August 15, 1950, the royal couple welcomed their second child and only daughter, Anne, Princess Royal.
PRINCESS ELIZABETH BECOMES QUEEN: 1952
During a royal tour of the Commonwealth, Prince Philip and his wife received news of King George’s death. By Implication, Elizabeth became the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
PRINCE PHILIP, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH: 1957
Queen Elizabeth II made her husband a prince of the United Kingdom. Hence, he became known as Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh for the rest of his life.
WELCOME PRINCE ANDREW: 1960
Prince Andrew joined the family on February 19, 1960.
FATHER OF FOUR: 1964
Prince Philip became a fourth-time father, when he welcomed his last son, Prince Edward, in 1964.
LETTERS TO PRINCESS DIANA: 2002
Speculations arose that Philip had been hostile to his late daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. To refute those claims, the press published several handwritten letters exchanged between the two royals. The letters proved Prince Philip only offered Diana support and comfort throughout her life as a royal.
THE PRINCE MAKES HISTORY: 2009
In 2009, Prince Philip made history by becoming the longest-serving royal consort.
PRINCE PHILIP REDUCES HIS WORKLOAD: 2011
In line with announcements made a year prior, the Duke of Edinburgh stepped down as Patron of several organizations on his 90th birthday in June 2011.
That same year, he received emergency treatment for a blocked coronary artery after feeling pain in his chest.
THE ROYAL CONSORT RETIRES FOR GOOD: 2017
At the age of 95, Prince Philip announced his retirement from public engagements as a result of his advanced age.
THE NARROW ESCAPE: 2019
The royal father of four gave up his driver’s license in 2019, following a car crash near the Queen’s Sandringham estate. The prince suffered no injuries in the accident, but the occupant of the second vehicle sustained a fractured wrist.
PRINCE PHILIP’S HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH
On February 16, 2021, Prince Philip was admitted into a hospital in London to treat an infection. He later transferred to a second hospital to undergo a heart procedure for an undisclosed condition.
The royalty remained hospitalized for a month before returning to his home in Windsor Castle on March 26.
Barely two weeks later, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away peacefully in Windsor castle. Buckingham Palace officials announced the news on April 9, 2021.
Prince Philip’s funeral took place on April 17, 2021, at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, United Kingdom. He left behind his wife, the Queen, their four children, eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
