Duke of Edinburgh
100 years since the birth of the Duke of Edinburgh
21 May 2021
Prince Philip was born 10 June 1921 in Mon Repos Castle in Corfu, as the youngest child of Prince Andreas of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice von Battenberg. The family went into exile in 1922 as a result of the military coup in Greece. After separating from her husband, Princess Alice lived with her four daughters and Prince Philip in Paris, while Prince Andreas lived in Monte Carlo.
After leaving Gordonstoun School in early 1939, Philip became a cadet at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and then joined the Royal Navy.
During a visit by the royal family in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth and Philip fell in love. After waiving his title, he received British citizenship in 1947 and changed his surname to Mountbatten.
On 20 November 1947, he married the British heir to the throne, Princess Elizabeth. Two days earlier, George VI appointed him Duke of Edinburgh. After her accession to the throne, the Queen also announced that the Duke was to have "place, pre-eminence and precedence" next to her.
The Duke of Edinburgh the longest serving consort of a British Monarch leaves a legacy of public service. Philip was patron of over 800 organisations, particularly focused on the environment, industry, sport and education.
Prince Philip died on 9th April 2021 at the age of 99 in London.