Prince Philip Fast Facts
CNN Editorial Research
Here’s a look at the life of Great Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Personal
Birth date: June 10, 1921
Death date: April 09, 2021
Birth place: Corfu, Greece
Birth name: Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark
Father: Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark
Mother: Princess Alice of Battenberg
Marriage: Queen Elizabeth II (November 20, 1947-April 09, 2021, his death)
Children: Edward, Earl of Wessex (March 10, 1964); Andrew, Duke of York (February 19, 1960); Anne, Princess Royal (September 15, 1950); King Charles III (November 14, 1948)
Military: British Royal Navy, 1939-1953
Other Facts
Full title: HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, Knight of the Garter, Knight of the Thistle, Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Order of Australia, Companion of The Queen’s Service Order, Privy Counsellor.
His ancestry is not Greek by blood, but English, Russian, German/Prussian and Danish.
The youngest of five children and the only son.
A third cousin of his wife, the Queen, and like her, he is a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.
His interests were painting, environmental conservation, horses, flying and sailing. He has written books on birds, the environment, carriage driving and other subjects.
After earning his RAF wings in 1953, Philip logged more than 5,900 hours in 59 different types of aircraft over the next 44 years.
Timeline
1922 – The overthrow of his brother, King Constantine I of Greece, causes Prince Andrew, Princess Alice and their five children to leave Greece and settle in Paris.
1930 – After his parents’ separation in 1930, Philip is sent to England and raised there by his maternal grandmother and uncle.
1940 – Serves as a midshipman, his first posting, on the HMS Ramillies of the Mediterranean Fleet.
1942 – Becomes a sub-lieutenant in the British Royal Navy.
July 1942 – Is promoted to first lieutenant and executive officer aboard the HMS Wallace, a destroyer, and participates in the Allied landings in Sicily during World War II.
February 1947 – Becomes a naturalized British citizen and a commoner, using the surname Mountbatten, an English translation of his mother’s maiden name. Prior to taking the British oath of citizenship, being sixth in line to the throne of Greece, he renounces all claims to titles in both Greece and Denmark.
July 10, 1947 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth announce Elizabeth’s engagement to Philip.
November 19, 1947 – Is invested as a Knight of the Order of the Garter and is given the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.
November 20, 1947 – Marries Princess Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey. His name changes from Lt. Philip Mountbatten to His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
1948 – Is appointed as a personal aide-de-camp to his father-in-law, King George VI.
1950 – Is promoted to lieutenant-commander.
June 1952 – Is promoted to commander, but his naval career ends with the death of King George VI, and his wife’s ascension to the throne on February 6.
1953 – Is appointed admiral of the fleet, field marshal of the Army and marshal of the Royal Air Force. Is designated regent presumptive by an act of parliament. In the event of the Queen’s death or incapacitation, Philip would rule as regent for Prince Charles.
1956 – Launches the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which rewards children for achievements in personal development and community involvement.
1956-1970 – Serves as president of the Royal Yachting Association.
1957 – By Queen’s decree, is “granted style and titular dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom.” He is invested as a Grand Master and First or Principal Knight of the Order of the British Empire. This decree restores his birth title of prince.
1961-1981 – First president of the World Wildlife Fund – UK.
1964-1986 – President of the International Equestrian Federation.
June 1968 – Is awarded the Order of the Merit by the Queen, an honor bestowed to those of, “great achievement in the fields of the arts, learning, literature and science,” and is restricted to 24 members.
1975-1980 – Serves as president of the Royal Yachting Association for the second time.
1981-1996 – Serves as president of World Wildlife Fund International.
1996-present – President emeritus of the World Wildlife Fund.
April 9, 2005 – Philip and the Queen are the only senior members of the royal family who do not attend Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles’ civil wedding ceremony. They do attend the dedication service.
November 10, 2005 – His 58th wedding anniversary makes him the longest-serving British consort, outliving the wife of King George III, Queen Charlotte.
October 23, 2006 – Inspects British forces in southern Iraq.
May 3-8, 2007 – Philip and the Queen visit the United States for the 400th anniversary of America’s first British settlement in Jamestown in 1607. They attend the Kentucky Derby on May 5 and a state dinner at the White House on May 7.
April 1, 2009 – Along with the Queen, meets US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace.
June 10, 2011 – His 90th birthday makes him the oldest-serving royal consort.
December 23-27, 2011 – Undergoes treatment for a blocked coronary artery at Papworth Hospital.
June 4-9, 2012 – Is hospitalized for a bladder infection at King Edward VII Hospital in London. He misses part of the Jubilee celebrations commemorating the Queen’s 60th anniversary on the throne.
August 15-20, 2012 – Is treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a bladder infection.
June 7-17, 2013 – Is a patient in London Clinic, admitted for abdominal pain, he has exploratory surgery the following day and is released following his recuperation.
January 26, 2015 – Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott awards that nation’s top honor, Knight of the Order of Australia, to Philip for his life of service throughout the Queen’s reign.
May 4, 2017 – Buckingham Palace announces that Philip will step down from public life after August 2017.
August 2, 2017 – Attends a parade of the Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace, carrying out the last of his thousands of public appearances before stepping back from public life.
April 3, 2018 – Philip is admitted to a London hospital to undergo planned surgery on his hip.
January 17, 2019 – Is involved in a traffic accident when his car collides with another vehicle carrying two women, aged 28 and 45, as well as a nine-month-old baby boy. In a statement the following day, a spokesperson said the Duke of Edinburgh had a “precautionary check-up” on doctor’s advice that confirmed Philip “had no injuries of concern.” It is later announced that he will not face any charges over the accident.
February 9, 2019 – Buckingham Palace announces that Philip has surrendered his driving license following his January traffic accident that left a female driver injured.
December 20, 2019 – Philip is admitted to the hospital over a “pre-existing” condition, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. He leaves the hospital on December 24.
April 20, 2020 – Philip makes a rare public statement thanking those working across the UK to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
February 16, 2021 – Philip is taken to a London hospital after feeling unwell, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. On March 3, he undergoes a medical procedure for a heart condition.
March 16, 2021 – Philip leaves King Edward VII’s Hospital where he was recovering and returns to Windsor Castle, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.
April 9, 2021 – Dies at the age of 99.
September 8, 2022 – Queen Elizabeth II dies, and Charles ascends to the throne.
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