Honeymoon sweethearts

Honeymoon sweethearts
Getty Images

Choosing where to honeymoon after a wedding is difficult for any newlyweds, but it must be a real headache for royal couples, who will be swarmed wherever they go. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth spent their wedding night at the home of Earl Mountbatten, Philip’s uncle. As with all royal abodes, this one has a name, Broadlands, and it’s located in Hampshire, England. The couple, together with Elizabeth’s pet corgi Susan, then set off for the rest of their honeymoon at Balmoral Estate. In this image, they’re shown taking a sweet walk through the Broadlands property.

Advertisement

Coronation day

Coronation day
Getty Images

The closest most of us have ever gotten to a coronation ceremony is watching the one that plays out for Queen Elsa in the animated movie Frozen. Princess Elizabeth had her coronation on June 2, 1953, forever changing her life and, in effect, that of Prince Philip. Here, they’re seen driving down Fulham Palace Road on the big day, touring northwest London to the delight of many revellers who wanted to be a part of this very important day in history. Although Prince Philip photos often show him in the Queen’s shadow, the royal worked diligently through the years and took his community duties as the Duke of Edinburgh very seriously.

 

The coronation continued

The coronation continued
Getty Images

Prince Philip was allowed to congratulate (or as they put it, “pay homage”) to Queen Elizabeth at her coronation only after the bishops and archbishops had said their piece, according to the official royal website. Interestingly, should Prince William take the crown as king, Duchess Kate will be crowned as a queen consort. But when it’s a female monarch, her husband does not get to take the title of king, which is why Philip has always been considered either a prince or duke. “I thought I was going to have a career in the Navy, but it became obvious there was no hope.…There was no choice,” Biography.com quotes Philip as saying of Elizabeth’s early ascension to the throne. “It just happened. You have to make compromises. That’s life. I accepted it. I tried to make the best of it.”

The birth of Prince Charles

The birth of Prince Charles
Getty Images

Before Elizabeth became Queen, she and Prince Philip welcomed their first child into the world. Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948, almost a year to the date of his parents’ first wedding anniversary. He was actually born at Buckingham Palace and weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces (3.34 kilograms) at birth. He was later christened at the Palace on December 15 of the same year. There are rumours that have long swirled about tension between Prince Philip and Prince Charles, most notably around the Duke of Edinburgh’s decision to send Charles to his alma mater, Gordonstoun School, which Charles described as “hell on earth,” according to Express.

Here’s what will happen when Prince Charles becomes king.

Navy man

Navy man
Getty Images

Prince Philip’s photos showcasing his time in the Royal Navy prove just how much he enjoyed that part of his life. This photo, for example, was taken during his final cruise aboard the HMS Magpie before returning home. He and his fellow naval officers who worked in the Mediterranean really enjoyed waterskiing, and this particular picture was taken on a beach in Turkey. It’s one of those rare accounts showing the royal’s more casual side, a whimsical moment in time in August 1951 not long before Prince Philip decided to end his naval career to better focus on his royal duties.

The birth of Princess Anne

The birth of Princess Anne
Getty Images

It was in 1950 that the Queen and Duke welcomed their second child, a baby girl whom they named Princess Anne. Coincidentally, Philip was promoted to a Royal Navy lieutenant-commander on the same day: August 15. It has been reported that Prince Philip and his daughter had a closer relationship than he did with Charles. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the wife of one of Philip’s close friends said, “[Philip] always had more fun with Anne. Charles is more like the Queen, while Anne is very like Prince Philip.”

Sky-high

Sky-high
Getty Images

A career highlight for Prince Philip was when he qualified for his Royal Air Force wings in 1953. In this photo, the then-32-year-old is pictured in the single-engined Harvard, with which he made three flights at White Waltham in Berkshire. The RAF Museum notes that he was awarded those well-earned wings by the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson at Buckingham Palace during a private ceremony on May 4, 1953. Prince Philip’s grandson, Prince William, famously served as a pilot with the RAF before leaving to perform more royal duties.

Family reunion

Family reunion
Getty Images

It’s fair to say that Prince Philip didn’t spend a lot of time with his mother, Princess Alice of Greece, while growing up as she reportedly battled mental health issues during his teen years. However, he is pictured with her here at the wedding of Princess Margeritha of Baden and Prince Tomislavof of Yugoslavia in 1957. According to CNN, Princess Alice became the founder of the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary, an order of nuns, in 1949. Their primary goal was to care for the sick. Her nickname for Prince Philip? Bubbikins.

At home

At home
Getty Images

In terms of Prince Philip photos, we have to admit the best ones are those that seemingly depict him and his famous family in candid, casual moments. It’s naive to think that these photos weren’t staged, at least in some respect, but as Philip and Elizabeth look on at Balmoral Estate while a young Charles and Anne play on a makeshift teeter-totter (simply a piece of plywood atop a log), they almost look “normal.” The castle, one of the family’s many lavish residences, is situated in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

These are the facts The Crown gets wrong about the British royal family.

The birth of Prince Andrew

The birth of Prince Andrew
Getty Images

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth continued to expand their family, welcoming Prince Andrew in 1960. Here, the family sits atop a picnic blanket in front of Balmoral Castle for a perfectly picturesque image. As a father, Prince Philip is often referred to as a “disciplinarian” and has been accused of trying to help his eldest son, Charles, “toughen up.” However, this approach may not have been all bad. A report in The Telegraph report suggests that the Palace is struggling today because Prince Philip is less involved. “Many royal watchers have noted that it was [Charles’] father, as head of the family, who kept a firm grip on palace business, ruling over the younger generations with an iron fist until he stepped back from public life,” royal watcher Victoria Ward shared with The Telegraph.

Never miss a deal again - sign up now!

Connect with us: