Philip Mountbatten, born on 10 June 1921 at Mon Repos on the island of Corfu, Greece, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-serving consort of a British monarch. At birth, he was granted the title Prince of Greece and Denmark. His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, a member of the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg dynasty, and his mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg. He had four elder sisters: Princess Margarita, Princess Theodora, Princess Cecilie, and Princess Sophie. His coat of arms continued to bear symbols of both the Greek flag and the Danish Royal Standard.

In 1922, following the abdication of his uncle King Constantine I of Greece and the defeat of Greece in the Greco-Turkish War, Philip’s father and other members of the royal family were forced into exile. As a result, Philip spent part of his childhood in France. His parents separated in 1930, after which he received his education in Scotland and Germany under German-Jewish educators. He later attended Gordonstoun School in Scotland, graduating in 1939.

At the age of 18, Philip Mountbatten joined the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom in 1939. During a visit by King George VI and his family to the Royal Naval College that same year, Philip met the king’s daughter, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. Following this meeting, Elizabeth and Philip began a correspondence that would continue for several years. He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 July 1942 and served actively during the Second World War.

In July 1943, while serving as second-in-command of HMS Wallace, Philip played a decisive role in saving the ship during a night bombing attack. In 1944, he transferred to the newly commissioned destroyer HMS Whelp, serving with the 27th Destroyer Flotilla of the British Pacific Fleet. After returning to England in January 1946, he served as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers’ School in Corsham, Wiltshire.

In March 1947, Philip Mountbatten formally renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles and adopted the surname Mountbatten, derived from his British maternal grandparents. From that point onward, he was known as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. On 20 November 1947, he married Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, the daughter of King George VI. On the day of their wedding, he was styled His Royal Highness and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by his father-in-law.

When Elizabeth ascended the throne on 6 February 1952 following the death of King George VI, Philip did not receive the title of king. As consort to the reigning monarch, he ended his naval career to support the Queen in her duties. In 1957, Queen Elizabeth II granted him the title of Prince of the United Kingdom. He became the longest-serving consort in British history and held the chancellorships of the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh for many years.

The marriage of Philip Mountbatten and Queen Elizabeth II produced four children: Charles, Prince of Wales (born 14 November 1948), Princess Anne (born 15 August 1950), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (born 19 February 1960), and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (born 10 March 1964). Through his children, Philip was the grandfather of Prince William and Prince Henry (Henry Mountbatten-Windsor).

Philip Mountbatten died on 9 April 2021 in London, England, at the age of 100. His death marked the end of a life defined by military service, steadfast dedication to the British monarchy, and unwavering support for Queen Elizabeth II throughout her historic reign.

Source: Biyografiler.com