IN PICTURES - The life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip died at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace announced on April 9. The husband of Elizabeth II, weakened, had been rare since the coronavirus epidemic and the first confinement in March 2020. Back in pictures on his life, including seventy years alongside "his" Queen Elisabeth.
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen" announced "the death of her beloved husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh" on Friday 9 April. Prince Philip, who had recently been hospitalized, died "peacefully (...) at Windsor Castle," Buckingham said in a statement.
1921 - Royal birth in Corfu
Philip of Greece and Denmark was born on June 10, 1921 in Corfu, Greece. He is the son of Prince André of Greece and Princess Alice of Greece, the youngest of the siblings, he has four older sisters. Here he wears the traditional Greek outfit for his nine years. At 18 months, his family fled Greece following a coup and came to live in Paris, where he grew up.
1939 - The Royal Navy ... and the meeting with Princess Elisabeth
The young prince joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 and began a brilliant military career. He was 18 when he first met, in July 1939, the young Princess Elizabeth of England, a first cousin. 13 years old, five years younger than him, she falls under his spell and will never stop loving him. They are separated by World War II, in which he takes an active part.
Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, real name, pictured here in 1947.
1946 - The engagement
The lovebirds write for several years before formalizing their relationship and finally getting engaged in 1946, but on one condition: that they wait until the princess's 21 years to formalize and that Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark renounce to his royal titles. He then became Philip Mountbatten, his mother's name, and converted to Anglicanism. Finally, on July 11, 1947, they publicly announced their engagement (photo).
1947 - The royal wedding ...
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elisabeth and Prince Philip married at a mass at Westminster Abbey, London, in front of more than 2,000 people, shortly after the end of the war. On the occasion of his marriage, he received the title of Duke of Edinburgh. The newlyweds then wave to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
... and the honeymoon
The royal couple go on their honeymoon to Broadlands, Romsey, in the Hampshire region. Here an official photo of the young couple, during their stay.
1948 - A royal family
The couple's first child, Prince Charles, was born on November 14, 1948. A little sister, Princess Anne was born two years later, on August 15, 1950. She is carried here by her mother, Princess Elisabeth and Charles, by her father, Prince Philip.
The Royal Family pose on September 28, 1952 at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
1952 - The Coronation of Elizabeth II
In 1952, on the death of her father, Elizabeth became queen. She was only 25 years old, Philip was 30. The prince ended his career in the navy and became prince consort of the United Kingdom. Here, during the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, June 2, 1953.
The royal family is still growing
Together, they had four children: after Prince Charles and Princess Anne were born Andrew, Duke of York, on February 19, 1960, and finally Edward, Earl of Wessex, born March 10, 1964.
A life in the shadows
As prince consort, Philip is at the side of his wife, whom he assists in her duties as sovereign. By marrying her, he chose to give up his former life to devote himself to protocol life, but the beginnings are difficult, the death of King George VI too early. Thinking of having nearly ten years ahead of him before royal obligations, the prince consort often feels uncomfortable, sometimes humiliated, and his freedom bullied.
"My first, second and last job is to never let the queen down"
He will end up creating a role for himself, mixing pleasure and obligations. He even ended up declaring a few years later that his "first, second and last job is never to let the queen down".
From official trips to formal dinners and ceremonies, he will faithfully accompany Queen Elisabeth II for more than half a century.
The monarchy in crisis and the "annus horribilis"
Prince Philip will be alongside his wife in 1996, a year so terrible for Queen Elisabeth II that she qualifies her as "annus horribilis". In 1996, their second son, Andrew, divorced Sarah Ferguson with a crash. The same year, Charles and Diana (who married with great pomp in 1981) officially divorced, four years after the announcement of their separation. A year later, on August 31, 1997, Diana died in a car accident in Paris. In 2002, the Queen lost her sister, Margaret, in February, and her mother, Queen Mother Elizabeth, died at age 101 in March.
Discreet, but solid, Prince Philip will be present alongside Queen Elisabeth II to face these trials.
Series gaffer
Appreciated by the citizens of the United Kingdom, he is known for his "so British" humor and ... his blunders. The official YouTube channel of the royal family did not hesitate to compile them in this video (in English with subtitles):
A "beloved partnership"
The British are also very fond of the royal couple, praising their longevity, discretion and consistency. Speaking of the royal couple, The Telegraph calls them "one of the greatest and beloved partnerships in British history".
Almost 70 years after their mutual love at first sight, Prince Philip and Queen Elisabeth II often show their complicity during public events.
In 2011, the queen herself, though not very demonstrative, will pay homage to her husband by declaring publicly: "He is my rock. He has simply been my strength and my support".
Royal descent
The royal couple have eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Mia, the daughter of Zara Philips, Savannah and Isla, the daughters of Peter Philipps, George, Charlotte and Louis, the children of Prince William of England. In May 2019, Archie was born, his seventh great-grandchild, son of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
A well-deserved retirement
On May 4, 2017, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement that "His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided to stop honoring public engagements from the fall" and to retire from public life, adding that the Prince Philip had "the full support" of the Queen. Prince Philip makes his last public engagement on August 2, 2017.
Fury against the "Megxit"
The appearances of the prince consort are becoming increasingly rare after he has retired from public life, but he allows himself a few outings, especially during the episode of "Megxit", in January 2020.
His beloved grandson, Harry, and his wife Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex since their marriage in 2018, announce on their Instagram account that they are giving up their role in the royal family and distance themselves. They will now split their lives between the UK and North America and become financially independent.
Upon learning this news, the prince consort, outraged by the choices of the Sussexes, said he was "deeply hurt" and blamed the inability of Meghan Markle to "support the monarchy", he who had sacrificed his life. He then refused to visit the couple and their little Archie.
Latest appearances and latest jokes
Hospitalized "preventively" in December 2019, the health of the Duke of Edinburgh had been particularly monitored in 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Confined to Windsor Castle with his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, he celebrated his 99th birthday in 2020. One of his last public appearances dates back to July of the same year, in London, during a military ceremony. He then took the opportunity to slip, one last time, one of his famous jokes.
