HRH Prince Philip
- Library Zest Team
- Apr 16, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 28, 2021
This past week marks the end of an era with the passing of HRH Prince Philip. He was the longest standing consort in the British Monarchy to the longest reigning Monarch. Of the members of the Royal Family, he is also one who had a fondness for Canada, so much so that he visited our country more than any other royal. Whether you are a strict believer in the Monarchy or feel it’s a system from another time, there never ceases to be an interest in members of the Royal Family. And although Philip wasn’t without his flaws, when you look into his life and legacy it’s understandable why many are saddened by his passing.
He had an unusual upbringing, even for a Prince. Born in June 1921 in Corfu, Greece, he was the fifth and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenburg. At the time, he was in line for both the Greek and Danish thrones. Times soon turned on the Royal family. Greece was at war with Turkey and, after a crushing defeat where Turkey made significant advances, Philip’s uncle King Constantine I, was forced to abdicate and the rest of the Royal family was thus thrown into exile. Philip and his family left their home and most of the possessions immediately and boarded a naval ship to France, Philip only eighteen months old, in an orange crate in place of a crib. Once in France, the family lived in a home lent to them by an aunt, Princess Maria Bonaparte, known as Princess George of Greece and Denmark. Philip spent many of his formative years being sent and transferred to various boarding schools starting with The Elms in Paris. In 1930, he moved to England under the care of his maternal grandmother, Princess Victoria Mountbatten. During these years, all four of his sisters would wed members of the German aristocracy. His father left Paris and the family to settle in Monte Carlo with his mistress. And sadly, the Prince’s mother, Princess Alice, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to an asylum for a time.
The Prince would go on to serve in the Royal Navy, beginning with cadet training in 1939. Over time, he would be promoted to First Lieutenant of HMS Wallace in October 1942, making him one of the youngest to hold the position. In the summer of 1946, Philip asked King George VI for his daughter Princess Elizabeth's hand in marriage. The King gave his consent but the engagement wasn’t made public until after Elizabeth turned twenty-one. By that time, Philip had relinquished his titles to the Greek and Danish thrones. The two were married in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The Prince and Princess began fulfilling their roles as senior Royals and began touring the Commonwealth Countries. During a visit to Kenya, Princess Elizabeth, already mother to Charles and Anne, learned that her father had passed. She then became The Queen. Thrust into the spotlight even more than before, the young Princess Elizabeth was crowned on June 2, 1953. She has reigned ever since.
Over his life, Prince Philip made 22,219 engagements and 5,493 speeches. He also was a patron, member, or president of over 780 organizations. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is one he was particularly proud of. He would go on to visit Canada over 70 times, either with other members of the Royal Family or on his own. He was also a patron of the arts and an accomplished oil painter.
One Angus resident and Essa Public Library staff member, Angie, had a wonderful story to share about the Prince:
“Hearing the news of Prince Philip's death early this morning made me want to share this photo of my Dad with His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It was taken in November 1963 when The Duke was visiting the University of Swansea in South Wales. All the mechanical workers were instructed to wear clean, white overalls. My Dad, Colin Wishart, scoffed that he would be working and would wear his regular overalls. Of course, the Duke saw Dad working away on his machine and approached him for a chat. Another photo was featured in the South Wales Evening Post newspaper. I recently found this photo on the wall in Dad's workshop, so clearly, it meant something to him and my Mum said he was really proud Prince Philip talked to him. I reframed it and today it will be hung on the wall, in memory. Rest in peace, Sir.”
Because of COVID restrictions in the UK, the plans for Prince Philip’s funeral have had to be altered and the number of those attending limited. For details released by palace officials, visit this link. The funeral will be broadcast on all major networks on Saturday, April 17th, 2021 as early as 8 a.m.
The Essa Public Library has a number of books, documentaries, and fictional materials about the royal family and the British Monarchy; I recommend the following:
Prince Philip Revealed by Ingrid Seward.
This fascinating and insightful biography of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, and father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of the next three kings of England. From his early childhood in Paris among aristocrats and his mother's battle with schizophrenia to his distinguished military service during World War II and marriage to Elizabeth in 1947, Seward chronicles Philip's life and reveals his many faces--as a father, a philanthropist, a philanderer, and a statesman. Though it would take years for Philip to find his place in a royal court that initially distrusted him, he remained one of the most complex, powerful, yet confounding members of Britain's royal family.
The Wicked Wit of Queen Elizabeth II Compiled by Karen Dolby.
A beautiful collection celebrating the Queen's humour, with amusing quotations and stories about royal life. The Queen's sense of humour is like no other. Revealing a side of the Queen's personality that the public rarely sees, this joyous book is a timely celebration of royal humour as Elizabeth II succeeds Victoria as Britain's longest-serving monarch.
The Gown by Jennifer Robson. Fiction, available in regular and large print.
With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created. Balancing behind-the-scenes details with a sweeping portrait of a society left reeling by the calamitous costs of victory, she introduces readers to three unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and intersecting throughout its pages, whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love.
The Queen At War: the true story of Queen Elizabeth's experience in WWII.
Princess Elizabeth was a child of thirteen on September 3, 1939, when her father King George VI informed the people that Britain was at war. This revelatory documentary tells the story of the Queen's experiences during WWII and how the longest-reigning monarch in British history was shaped by the war.
This PBS production is available on DVD.
The Crown.
Follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
This Netflix production is available on DVD. There are currently four seasons.
Victoria.
In 1837, a diminutive, neglected teenager is crowned Queen Victoria. She now has to navigate the scandal, corruption, and political intrigues of the Court, and soon rises to become the most powerful woman in the world.
This Masterpiece-PBS production is available on DVD. There are currently three seasons available.
Author bio:
Dawn has worked in library services for over fifteen years; her background is in art and design but books have always had their pull. She is a dog-mom to a Bernedoodle. She does not have a green thumb but is trying her best. She thinks there is no greater joy than the calm of a good book and a hot cup of tea. She thinks libraries have come a long way since her childhood and is happy to be along for the journey.
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