Duke of Edinburgh Philip

Greek-Danish-British husband of Queen Elizabeth II from 1947 until his death in 2021, he was the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch (1952-2021, 68 years) and, having died at age 99, the oldest ever male member of the British royal family.

He served in the British Navy during World War II and was a pilot-Captain General of the Royal Marines. He was also an enthusiastic yachtsman and polo player, and known for his concern for wildlife conservation. Philip was notorious in the media for colourful verbal gaffes. No one, public or private, was safe from his volcanic temper and withering wit.

Born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, he was the only son and fifth and final child of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. A member of the House of Glücksburg, the ruling house of Denmark, he was a prince of both Greece and Denmark by virtue of his patrilineal descent from George I of Greece and Christian IX of Denmark, and he was from birth in the line of succession to both thrones.

Philip adopted the family name of 'Mountbatten' (English version of the German 'Battenberg') when he renounced his royal title in 1947 and became a naturalized British citizen. He was related to many of Europe's royal families. The prince and Queen Elizabeth both had Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother, and were second cousins once removed.

He was educated at schools in France, England and Germany, and attended Gordonstoun School which all three of his sons also attended. In 1939, he left Gordonstoun and joined the Royal Navy as a cadet. He was appointed Commander of the Frigate HMS MAGPIE in 1952, but ended his naval career with the death of his father-in-law, King George VI.

Philip married then Princess Elizabeth of England on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. In April 1952, the Queen made the Duke of Edinburgh a Knight of the Thistle.