Prince Phillip is the prince consort to Queen Elizabeth II. The prince has been married to Her Majesty since 1947 and is the father of three children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew. He was born in 1921 in Greece where he lived until his family moved to England when he was five years old. So here are ten things you may not know about Prince Phillip.
1. PRINCE PHILLIP WAS BORN IN GREECE IN 1921.
Prince Phillip was born at Mon Repos, Corfu on 10th June 1921. At the time of his birth, he was the prince of Greece and Denmark.
2. HIS FAMILY MOVED TO ENGLAND WHEN HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.
Philip is the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. His family moved to England in 1940, when he was aged 5, following the invasion of his homeland by Nazi Germany. He disengaged himself from public life and most aspects of royal protocol to live as far as possible a "normal life" with his prince consort title limited to Wales.
3. HE SERVED IN THE ROYAL NAVY DURING WORLD WAR II.
Prince Phillip joined the Royal Navy in 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II. He served as a lieutenant on a destroyer and saw action in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic. He was made a prince in 1957 and became the consort of Queen Elizabeth II.
4. HE MARRIED QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN 1947.
Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth met when they were both teenagers, and they started dating in 1939.
A few years later, they got married in 1947. They've been together for over 70 years, and they're still going strong.
5. HE IS THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN - PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCESS ANNE, AND PRINCE ANDREW.
Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew are the children of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II. Charles is the eldest, and he's followed by Anne and then Andrew. All three of them have had successful careers in their own right.
Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne, and he's also a well-known environmentalist. Anne is a successful Olympian who has won multiple gold medals. And Andrew is a successful businessman who has served as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. They're all amazing in their way, and they make their parents proud.
6. HE HAS BEEN PRINCE CONSORT TO THE QUEEN FOR OVER 60 YEARS!
Queen Elizabeth's consort to the queen for over 60 years, Prince Phillip has been a mainstay in the Royal Family. He has been by her side through thick and thin, and the two have always been very close.
7. HE IS A PATRON OF OVER 780 ORGANIZATIONS.
Prince Phillip has been involved with 780 organizations over his lifetime, most of which have been charities. In 1956, he founded the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a youth program that encourages young people to participate in outdoor activities and community service. He's also been involved with the WWF, the World Wildlife Fund, for many years, and has served as its president since 1991.
8. HE HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL BOOKS ABOUT HIS LIFE AND EXPERIENCES.
Prince Phillip has written a few books over the years. One book, entitled "A Royal Duty," tells of his life and experiences as the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Another book, "The Great Safari: A Lifetime of Adventure with Animals" is about his love for animals and the outdoors.
9. HE WAS MADE A KNIGHT OF THE GARTER IN 1974.
Prince Phillip was made a Knight of the Garter in 1974.
The honor is one of the highest in the United Kingdom and is only given to those who have held public office, have defended the realm or have contributed in a notable way to national life.
10. HE HAS A KEEN INTEREST IN ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY.
Philip was a skilled diplomat and a prince who had a deep interest in archeology. Phillip also had a strong interest in architecture. Generally, prince Philip pursued his projects and ideas instead of joining the Royal family. The prince used to adventure by going to areas where he can't be tracked down by the media. He is then free to do as he pleased without facing any consequences from the public or his father.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PRINCE PHILLIP? THEN KEEP READING!
- He is the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and the oldest-ever male member of the British royal family.
- His full name is Philip Mountbatten-Windsor
- One of Prince Phillip's hobbies is painting. He has painted for more than 50 years and he paints pictures in oils and acrylics as well as watercolors and pastels
- His hobbies include playing polo, driving vintage cars, photography, fishing
- He made his first public appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Princess Elizabeth on her wedding day
WHEN DID PRINCE PHILIP DIE?
Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 95 on Thursday in 1997. He had been in poor health for some time and was hospitalized in December for an infection.
Prince Phillip was a celebrated war hero and accomplished sailor. He also had a reputation for being something of a jokester and was known for his quick wit. He and the Queen had been married for 71 years, making them the longest-married royal couple in British history.
The Queen has been described as "devastated" by her husband's death.
