5 Notable Things To Know About The Late Prince Philip

Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away yesterday, April 9 at the age of 99. In a statement the Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”

He was Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, having married her in 1947, and making him the longest-serving consort in British royal history. They have four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. Prince Philip is a renowned arts patron as well as sportsman. 

Here are 5 things to know about the late royal:

He loved art. According to Artnet, the Prince privately enjoyed oil painting, “creating numerous portraits and landscapes over the decades.” Some of these works were kept in his private collections; others are in the Royal Collection Trust. 

He was a war hero. At 18, he was a member of the Royal Navy, working as a midshipman. During the Second World War, he aided in searchlight control during the Battle of Matapan off Greece in March 1941. Because of his service, he was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valor. 

He was a dedicated royal, with dedicated patronages. Some of his most notable patronages include Action Medical Research, the Association for Science Education, Book Aid International,  Central Readers’ Council, Marine Biological Association, and more. 

He was an environmentalist. To the Prince, taking care of the environment was as important as all his other royal duties—something that Charles must’ve inherited from him. In an interview with the BBC, he said: “If we’ve got this extraordinary diversity on this globe, it seems awfully silly for us to destroy it.” In the 60s, he began traveling via electric cars, and used LPG-powered vehicles to get around London, according to Reader’s Digest. 

He started a youth achievement award. The Prince established the Duke of Edinburgh Award in 1956, as inspired by a teacher of his at the Gordonstoun School. The Award is a program based on “personal achievement” in volunteer service, physical fitness, skills, and “adventurous journey”: an expedition on foot, bicycle, boat, or horseback. 

Lead photo from @theroyalfamily