We’re celebrating the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. After 99 years, nearly 74 of them married to Queen Elizabeth II, the palace issued a statement announcing Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle.
Prince Philip has left behind a great legacy well beyond his nearly 80 years of service as a member of the royal family serving the Commonwealth; he will also be remembered fondly as a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a decorated veteran, a celebrity, and as we at Hollywood.com like to say – a holly do-gooder.
Prince Philip: Husband to Queen Elizabeth II
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth met in the summer of 1934. Following that initial meeting, Prince Philip went on to enlist and serve in the Royal Navy. Over the next several years, they maintained their relationship through letters, and following his return from service during World War II, Prince Philip asked King George VI for Queen Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. On November 20th, 1947 they were married in Westminster Abby and he became Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Throughout their life together there have been many quotes about marriage perhaps most notably, during a speech on the couple’s golden wedding anniversary, Prince Philip gave a hint at how they successfully maintained their marriage:
That same evening, the Queen spoke about her husband, saying “He is someone who doesn’t take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years,” she said. “I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Their 87-year love story is the stuff of great Hollywood movies; they were often seen laughing and smiling together.
Prince Philip: Father to Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have four children: Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Anne, Princess Royal.
Prince Philip: Grandfather and Great-Grandfather
The extended family of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II includes 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. While sometimes it is difficult to remember the death of a celebrity which is mourned throughout the world, to members of the family, many still children, they are celebrating the life of their “Grandpa” as Prince Philip was called.
Prince Philip: Veteran
The world is undoubtedly going to miss Prince Philip, his presence will be dearly missed at official engagements, especially those related to the military, the Royal Marines, and young people. He had a distinguished career in the military. He completed 40 years’ service as a naval officer and was made King’s Guard for two subsequent years. From creating the Duke’s Coat of Arms to becoming a Knight of the Order of the Garter, Prince Philip has some of the highest honors in England.
My thoughts are with the British people and the Royal Family on the passing away of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He had a distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives. May his soul rest in peace.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 9, 2021
Prince Philip: Royal
Prince Philip’s sharp sense of humor and appreciation for humor in others was best exhibited in his ability to make everyone feel at ease with a joke. Prince Philip was known for off-the-cuff remarks that often displayed a quick wit but occasionally missed the mark, sometimes in spectacular fashion. Prince Philip continued making public appearances well into his 90s, retiring only in August 2017.
Prince Philip: The Celebrity
Long before reality TV welcomed us into the home of celebrity families like the Kardashians and the Osbournes, Prince Philip commissioned a documentary titled Royal Family that gave the world a look at the royal family’s life behind the walls of the palace.
A Holly Do Gooder
During his lifetime, Prince Philip was a dedicated and tireless member of the royal family. He has supported a number of philanthropic endeavors and was associated with around 800 organizations. His namesake organization, the DofE, is described as “many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life.”
In an episode during season 3 of The Crown, the series portrayed Prince Philip’s philanthropic work at St. George’s House which he founded in 1966. According to the organization’s website, “St George’s House exists to nurture wisdom through dialogue. By bringing people together in a residential setting to grapple with difficult topics we feel the world can be made a better place.”
Prince Philip has had an extraordinary life and was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather – as well as a much-loved consort to Queen Elizabeth. As we mourn his passing, our coverage of Prince Philip will “always be bright and never fade away.”
More Like This: Everybody loves ‘The Crown’ – photo gallery
We’re reimagining Hollywood.com as a place where entertainment news actually entertains you. We’re sharing the good in Hollywood, spotlighting the feel-good stories that matter about any and every kind of celeb. Be a part of the good in Hollywood in your very own neighborhood with our movie ticketing app (coming soon!) that gives you a whole new way to buy movie tickets––in seconds. Follow us on Instagram for more feel-good celeb stories.
