Prince Phillip, decorated Royal Navy officer and longest serving royal consort, has sailed on to that further shore. This was no surprise – everyone’s favourite unfiltered royal was 99 years old after all; But given the stability the royal family symbolizes – especially in our dark and uncertain times – even a predictable death affects us acutely. We, the Commonwealth, have lost our Commander-in-Cheek..Thanks to “The Crown” on Netflix – where His now late Royal Highness was portrayed by Matt Smith – many more people are already familiar with Prince Phillip’s background as well as military career. In short, HRH descended from the royal families of Denmark and Greece, which was deposed in the latter. His mother was a German princess, while all four of his sisters wed German Princes and Dukes..Thanks to Lord Mountbatten, he was able to make his way into the British high nobility and begin his career with the Royal Navy. It was through his connections and service that he met and then married Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, the longest serving monarch in British history..It cannot have been easy living in the shadow of the most important woman on earth, particularly after a successful military career. His ancestral titles were stripped, replaced by British ones – even his own children would not bare his last name. Many have postulated that this made Prince Phillip bitter, which has been dramatized many times over. I prefer to believe that HRH was a true veteran of serious combat – Crete in 1941 was no picnic – and thus he had little time for practices that seemed so utterly pretentious..Nowhere was this better exhibited than in Prince Phillip’s ability to say the quiet part out loud, or to simply give his honest opinion on some grave subject without the expected “tact and refinement.”.When asked about Royals getting real jobs, HRH reminded the media, “constitutionally, I don’t exist.”.On questions of his family, particularly his children, Prince Phillip remarked that Charles was a romantic, “and because I don’t see things as a romantic would, I’m unfeeling.” Of course the best quips were directed at Princess Anne: on her hobbies, “if it doesn’t eat hay and fart, she’s not interested in it,” and on her attempted abduction, “she would have given them a hell of a time in her captivity.”.As the Royal Consort, Prince Phillip was required to open institutions. Having graced thousands of these events with His presence, the novelty had worn off, evidenced by the gaffe, “I declare this thing open, whatever it is!” To bystanders, HRH would make comments or observations that made it into late night monologues later: to a man in an electric wheelchair, “have you ever run over anybody?” to a child, “you’ll never be an astronaut – you’re too fat!” about his own country, “British women cannot cook.”.International affairs were also under the Prince’s purview, either accompanying the Queen of Canada or flying solo. Being from a certain generation showed up in some of HRH comments, for example asking in all seriousness if his Caribbean hosts were not the direct descendants of pirates, or congratulating a group of British scientists he visited in Papua New Guinea for not being cannibalized during their term..But Prince Phillip could also express deep sentiments. Of His wife, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, HRH said, “tolerance is the one essential ingredient in any happy marriage…the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.” He was also known to make statements praising conservation as well as firearms rights, remarking that no one speaks of banning cricket bats after a beating takes place..Perhaps what kept Prince Phillip dear to the hearts of many was his attachment to the military and all those who had served. He gave countless remarks praising the brave men and women of both Britain’s armed forces as well as the entire Commonwealth. There was never a moment where he put his own military career in a flattering light. Indeed at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, instead of speaking of glory days, he told the photographer to take the [expletive] picture. HRH scars were real..In 2017, Prince Phillip officially retired from Royal duties. It is rumored that HRH made this announcement in the middle of the night, waking up everyone from Our Sovereign to the lowest porter to witness his declaration. While that seems overly dramatic, the Prince’s own words on his legacy speak volumes: “better to get out before you reach your sell by date…I’m just sort of winding down.”.In our time of cancel culture and censorship, Prince Phillip’s unsanctimonious attitude will be sorely missed. HRH passing marks the end of an era, the final signal that the greatest generation is almost beyond living memory. To paraphrase Sir John Donne, the Duke of Edinburgh has been carried out to sea, and we are much the less. Godspeed Prince Phillip – may your waters be calm and stars bright..Nathan Giede is the BC Political Columnist for the Western Standard
Prince Phillip, decorated Royal Navy officer and longest serving royal consort, has sailed on to that further shore. This was no surprise – everyone’s favourite unfiltered royal was 99 years old after all; But given the stability the royal family symbolizes – especially in our dark and uncertain times – even a predictable death affects us acutely. We, the Commonwealth, have lost our Commander-in-Cheek..Thanks to “The Crown” on Netflix – where His now late Royal Highness was portrayed by Matt Smith – many more people are already familiar with Prince Phillip’s background as well as military career. In short, HRH descended from the royal families of Denmark and Greece, which was deposed in the latter. His mother was a German princess, while all four of his sisters wed German Princes and Dukes..Thanks to Lord Mountbatten, he was able to make his way into the British high nobility and begin his career with the Royal Navy. It was through his connections and service that he met and then married Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, the longest serving monarch in British history..It cannot have been easy living in the shadow of the most important woman on earth, particularly after a successful military career. His ancestral titles were stripped, replaced by British ones – even his own children would not bare his last name. Many have postulated that this made Prince Phillip bitter, which has been dramatized many times over. I prefer to believe that HRH was a true veteran of serious combat – Crete in 1941 was no picnic – and thus he had little time for practices that seemed so utterly pretentious..Nowhere was this better exhibited than in Prince Phillip’s ability to say the quiet part out loud, or to simply give his honest opinion on some grave subject without the expected “tact and refinement.”.When asked about Royals getting real jobs, HRH reminded the media, “constitutionally, I don’t exist.”.On questions of his family, particularly his children, Prince Phillip remarked that Charles was a romantic, “and because I don’t see things as a romantic would, I’m unfeeling.” Of course the best quips were directed at Princess Anne: on her hobbies, “if it doesn’t eat hay and fart, she’s not interested in it,” and on her attempted abduction, “she would have given them a hell of a time in her captivity.”.As the Royal Consort, Prince Phillip was required to open institutions. Having graced thousands of these events with His presence, the novelty had worn off, evidenced by the gaffe, “I declare this thing open, whatever it is!” To bystanders, HRH would make comments or observations that made it into late night monologues later: to a man in an electric wheelchair, “have you ever run over anybody?” to a child, “you’ll never be an astronaut – you’re too fat!” about his own country, “British women cannot cook.”.International affairs were also under the Prince’s purview, either accompanying the Queen of Canada or flying solo. Being from a certain generation showed up in some of HRH comments, for example asking in all seriousness if his Caribbean hosts were not the direct descendants of pirates, or congratulating a group of British scientists he visited in Papua New Guinea for not being cannibalized during their term..But Prince Phillip could also express deep sentiments. Of His wife, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, HRH said, “tolerance is the one essential ingredient in any happy marriage…the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.” He was also known to make statements praising conservation as well as firearms rights, remarking that no one speaks of banning cricket bats after a beating takes place..Perhaps what kept Prince Phillip dear to the hearts of many was his attachment to the military and all those who had served. He gave countless remarks praising the brave men and women of both Britain’s armed forces as well as the entire Commonwealth. There was never a moment where he put his own military career in a flattering light. Indeed at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, instead of speaking of glory days, he told the photographer to take the [expletive] picture. HRH scars were real..In 2017, Prince Phillip officially retired from Royal duties. It is rumored that HRH made this announcement in the middle of the night, waking up everyone from Our Sovereign to the lowest porter to witness his declaration. While that seems overly dramatic, the Prince’s own words on his legacy speak volumes: “better to get out before you reach your sell by date…I’m just sort of winding down.”.In our time of cancel culture and censorship, Prince Phillip’s unsanctimonious attitude will be sorely missed. HRH passing marks the end of an era, the final signal that the greatest generation is almost beyond living memory. To paraphrase Sir John Donne, the Duke of Edinburgh has been carried out to sea, and we are much the less. Godspeed Prince Phillip – may your waters be calm and stars bright..Nathan Giede is the BC Political Columnist for the Western Standard
