Prince Philip, Husband of Queen Elizabeth, Dies At 99

Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, died on Friday morning at age 99. He was the oldest ever male member of the British royal family.

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” said the Royal family in a statement. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. Further announcements will be made in due course.”

Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, was hospitalized earlier this year for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition. He was discharged on Mar. 16 after a month long stay and returned to Windsor Castle to be with the Queen.

Prince Philip was born of June 10, 1921 to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and the former Princess Alice, the oldest daughter of the former Prince Louis of Battenberg, the first Marquess of Milford Haven. He was their fifth child and only son.

His family lived in Greece until they were exiled when he was a baby. His parents eventually separated and he was sent to live with his mother’s mother, the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, who was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

He was sent to Cheam School in England and Gordonstoun School in Scotland, where he developed a love for seafaring. He joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 at 18 years old and eventually fought in the Mediterranean and Pacific Fleets for Britain in World War II.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth first met in 1934 when he was invited on a Royal yacht and to Windsor Castle. The two began writing letters to each other when he was 18 and she was around 13 years old.

He renounced his Greek and Danish titles and become Lt. Philip Mountbatten, a British subject, which pleased his future father-in-law. King George VI dubbed him as His Royal Highness and created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. The couple’s engagement was announced in July of 1947. They were married a few months later on Nov. 20 1947.

The couple’s first son, Prince Charles, was born in 1948. Their only daughter, Princess Anne was born in 1950. Queen Elizabeth became Queen in 1952 after her father’s death, but had two more children after that. Their third child, Prince Andrew was born in 1960, and their last son, Prince Edward, was born in 1964.

Prince Philip was appointed to the highest ranks in the armed services: admiral of the fleet, field marshal and marshal of the Royal Air Force, but left active military service and was formally made Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957.

Of course, there were rumors about fighting within the marriage, but the couple remained married for almost 74 years.

In terms of screen portrayal, Prince Philip has been played by Stewart Granger in The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana and Christopher Lee in Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story both in 1982. More recently, he was played by James Cromwell in 2006 film The Queen and both Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies on Netflix’s The Crown. 

“Netflix, Left Bank Pictures, Sony Pictures Television and the production team on The Crown are deeply saddened to hear of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh,” said Netflix in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the entire Royal Family at this sad time.”

Prince Philip is survived by his wife, his four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.