whole world is closely watching the life of Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain.A genuine interest and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.In the United Kingdom, he is highly respected.Ashley Walton biographer Philip called "national treasure" of Great Britain.The fate of this interesting man will be discussed in this article.
Origin
Philip Battenberg, the future Duke of Edinburgh, was born in 1921 on June 10.He was the fifth child of Prince Andrew and Princess Alice of Battenberg.The boy was born on the island of Corfu (Greece), at the Villa Mon Repos.In 1922, September 22, King Constantine first, Uncle Philip abdicated.As a result, Prince Andrew, along with the rest of the family was arrested crowned interim government.He was sentenced to banishment for life from Greece.On the British royal ship BMC «Calypso» family Prince Andrew together with a small Philip was taken to France.The boy was asleep in bed, made up of a basket of fruit.The exiles have settled in the suburbs of Paris, to the estate of Saint-Cloud.
Childhood and adolescence
Childhood and adolescence spent very rapidly Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.The young man was not too happy.The scion of the Greek royal family initially was lonely in Britain.His parents' marriage soon fell apart, and the whole family was scattered across fragmented war Europe.Prince Andrew settled on the French Riviera, while the mother of Philip, recovered from severe mental illness, returned to Greece.Sister Philip married German aristocrats, so at the beginning of the war the prince was away from all his relatives.In addition, some native Prince lost even in adolescence.When Philip was sixteen years old, in 1937, his sister Cecelia, along with her husband, two young children and mother got in a plane crash in Ostend.The whole family was killed.The young prince attended their funerals, which took place in Darmstadt.A year later, he died of cancer, his uncle and guardian, Lord Milford Haven.
Education
In 1928, Philip went to study in the UK.Later, he moved to Germany, where he studied in 1933 at a private school.At that time his mother came in a psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of "schizophrenia".Then the young man was engaged in one of the schools in Scotland.In 1939, he enrolled at Dartmouth Royal Naval College.Prince graduated in 1940, he was promoted to warrant officer.Four months later, he served on the battleship «Ramillies», and later sailed on ships «Shropshire» and «Kent».
Military
During World War II Prince Philip served in the Navy.When, in 1940, in October, Italian troops invaded Greece, the boy was transferred to the battleship «Valiant», which was part of the Mediterranean fleet.The young man took part in many military operations, including the provision of cover for British-American troops landed in Sicily in 1943.In January 1946, when the war ended, Philip returned to the UK and worked as an instructor in the cruiser «Royal Arthur», in Wiltshire.
acquaintance with his future wife
In 1939, King George the Sixth visited the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth.During this visit, he met Philip and his third cousin.The young man immediately liked Elizabeth, the future Queen of England.Between her and the prince began a lively correspondence.At that time she was only thirteen years old.Later, in the summer of 1946, Philip asked George the Sixth hand of his daughter.
Family Life
before marriage to Philip was given the title Duke of Edinburgh.The wedding took place in 1947, on November 20 at Westminster Abbey.The newlyweds went to live at Clarence House.Their first son, Charles, was born in 1948.Then, in 1950, Princess Anne was born, and later - Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964).
husband of Queen
After the death in 1952 of King George the Sixth in the English throne ascended Elizabeth II, Philip's wife.The Duke of Edinburgh was the husband of the current monarch of the country, but refused the title of Prince Consort.He strongly supported his wife in her new responsibilities, accompanied her on different ceremonies: trips abroad, dinners at the opening of the parliamentary session in different countries.Until recently, the Prince visited about 350 different ceremonies and events per year and only celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2011, he said he was going to "slow down."
political views
In 1957, 14 October, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.He stated bluntly about his attitude towards republicanism in this country in 1969, saying that the monarchy should exist for the benefit of the common people.And if this system for any reason will not hold citizens, they have the right to change it.However, this statement does not match the other, they accidentally thrown phrase.Visited Paraguay in 1971, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, said Alfredo Stroessner, dictator tamoshnem: "It's nice to visit in the country, controlled by its people."Later, the prince said that his words had been undisguised irony.However, this version does not believe it.
Interests
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his youth played well in polo.He also successfully engaged in sailing.In 1952, the prince received his first lesson in the management plane.To his seventieth birthday, he has flown 5150 hours.Duke also keen on horse racing sled.It ceased to participate in these competitions only person in the age of eighty.In addition, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is seriously engaged in painting: painted oil collected works by other artists, including contemporary cartoonists.Hugh Casson, a British art historian, described the work of Philip "exactly what you expect ... a direct message, without walking around and around."He also noted the vigorous brush strokes and strong colors in the art of the prince.
activism
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, photos of which are presented in this article, until recently, was the patron of about eight thousand different organizations.He is chairman of the organization responsible for the presentation of a special award for the citizens of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of fourteen to twenty four years.Prince for a long time been one of the leaders of the World Wildlife Fund.These activities took him a long time, but Philip is trying to separate themselves from the modern environmental activists.Being a man with conservative views, he said that is not going to "cuddle with rabbits."
Reputation
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the growth of which is 1.83 centimeters, has an unusual reputation in his country.It is undoubtedly revered and respected, but it is known that he never climbs his words.And always expressed with unusual for a member of a family crowned directness.Vigorous phrase of Philip collect some.A few years ago, even published a book with the most famous sayings of the prince.In many ways, the Duke of Edinburgh humor seems tactless because he is a man of the old school.Sometimes he either deliberately, or out of habit ignores the traditions of the modern era, with its tolerance of all: the racial characteristics, or unusual costumes couples extra kilos.Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, often gets into funny situations, which, however, do not harm his reputation.
June 10, 2014 Prince turned 93.Already sixty-two years, Philip worthy plays a modest role and the important support of his wife, the queen crowned.Therefore, it is called a "national treasure" of Great Britain.
