Prince Philip Biography

He served in ‘World War II’ as part of the British forces where he was commissioned as a midshipman in 1940. He spent four months on the battleship ‘HMS Ramillies,’ followed by shorter postings on ‘HMS Shropshire’ and ‘HMS Kent.’ In October, he was transferred to ‘HMS Valiant’ in the Mediterranean fleet after the invasion of Greece by Italy.

He was promoted to sub-lieutenant after few courses at Portsmouth where he earned the top grade in four out of five sections of the qualifying examination. Soon, he was appointed to ‘HMS Wallace’ which was involved in the allied invasion of Sicily.

On July 16, 1942, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In October of the same year, he became the first lieutenant of ‘HMS Wallace’ from the ‘Royal Navy.’ After two years, he moved to ‘HMS Whelp.’ In January 1946, he was posted as an instructor at ‘HMS Royal Arthur’ in Wiltshire.

On November 19, 1947, he was appointed to the highest order of Chivalry, ‘Order of the Garter.’ He thereby received 17 different appointments and decorations in the Commonwealth, and 48 by foreign states. Soon, he was made chairman of the ‘Coronation Commission,’ and became the first member of the royal family to fly in a helicopter and visit the troops that were to participate in the ceremony.

In 1952, he was appointed ‘Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps,’ ‘Colonel-in-chief of the British Army Cadet Force,’ and ‘Air Commodore-in-chief of the Air Training Corps.’ The following year, he was made the ‘Admiral of the Fleet,’ ‘Captain General Royal Marines,’ ‘Field Marshal,’ and ‘Marshal of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.’

In 1956, he founded the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’ with a German educator named Kurt Hahn to help young people have a sense of responsibility towards themselves and their communities. During these years, he traveled across the globe aboard the newly commissioned ‘HMY Britannia,’ and opened the 1956 ‘Summer Olympics’ in Melbourne. He also visited the Antarctic during this time.

On February 22, 1957, he received the title of ‘Prince of the United Kingdom.’ On that day, it was declared that he would be referred to as ‘His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.’ On October 14, he took his ‘Oath of Allegiance’ before the queen at her Canadian residence, ‘Rideau Hall.’

From 1961 to 1982, he served as UK president of the ‘World Wildlife Fund.’ He took up international presidentship from 1981, focusing on wildlife and environmental issues.

He was the patron of ‘Work Foundation’ and was president of the ‘International Equestrian Federation’ from 1964 to 1986. He also served as chancellor of the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Salford, and Wales.

On November 4, 1951, he was appointed to the Lord of her Majesty’s most honorable privy council. After two years, he was appointed as ‘Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.’

In 1963, he was appointed as ‘Member First Class of the Order of the Brilliant Star’ by Zanzibar. In 1972, he was made an ‘Honorary Member of the Darjah Utama Temasek’ by Singapore.

On his 90th birthday, the queen appointed him ‘Lord High Admiral of the Royal Navy,’ the highest rank in the organization that anyone other than the sovereign can hold. He was also appointed to the highest ranks available in each branch of the Canadian Forces; ‘Honorary Admiral of the Maritime Command’ and ‘General of the Land Force Command and Air Command.’

The ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’ was named after him. The award is given on completing a program of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 24. Another award titled ‘Prince Philip’s Designer’s Prize,’ which is given by the ‘Design Council,’ is an annual design recognition award. ‘Prince Philip Medal’ is awarded to the engineer of any nationality who has made an exceptional contribution to engineering, management, or education.

On April 2013, he was appointed as the ‘Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada’ and ‘Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit.’

In 1939, he met Elizabeth, daughter of King George VI, when she visited ‘Royal Naval College,’ Dartmouth with her parents. They fell in love with each other and remained in touch through exchange of letters. In 1946, he asked the king for his daughter’s hand in marriage to which he agreed. They got married on November 20, 1947, at ‘Westminster Abbey.’

He had four children, namely Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

Prince Philip retired from his royal duties on 2 August 2017, at the age of 96.

He passed away on 9 April 2021, at Windsor Castle, London, just a few months short of his 100th birthday.

Prince Philip was an accomplished pilot.

He was the first member of the British royal family to appear on a British stamp.

Prince Philip was a dedicated environmentalist and worked to raise awareness about conservation issues.