He attended an average of 350 official engagements a year on behalf of the royal household. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [6] A member of the House of Glcksburg, the ruling house of Denmark, he was a prince of both Greece and Denmark by virtue of his patrilineal descent from King GeorgeI of Greece and King ChristianIX of Denmark; he was from birth in the line of succession to both thrones. "[120] On the day of the funeral, Philip, William, Harry, Charles, and Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, walked through London behind her bier. The husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was Prince Philip, duke of Edinburgh. The tribute was originally planned to mark his 100th birthday. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The third daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Cecilie was born at Tatoi Palace, near Athens, on 22 June 1911. At the behest of the Greek king, GeorgeII (his first cousin), he returned to Britain in September to resume training for the Royal Navy. longest-lived male member of the British royal family, Victoria Mountbatten, Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse, Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, List of titles and honours of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, worship Prince Philip as a god-like spiritual figure, Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn, Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia, Elizabeth Feodorovna (Elisabeth of Hesse), Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich of Russia, Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, "His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh", "Prince Philip's 90th birthday: a life less ordinary for The Duke of Edinburgh", "The Life And Times Of The Royal Consort", "Do your DofE The Duke of Edinburgh's Award", "Prince Philip was a man determined to make an impact", "Prince Philip's secret return visit to the island of his birth", "Queen Nazi salute film: Documentary will show Prince Philip's sister calling Hitler 'charming and modest', "Prince Philip: A turbulent childhood stalked by exile, mental illness and death", "A strange life: Profile of Prince Philip", "Prince Philip's war heroics come to light after 60 years", "Philip, the one constant through her life", "Queen and Duke of Edinburgh celebrate 65th wedding anniversary", "Queen Elizabeth Insisted that Prince Philip Give Up Smoking When They Got Married", "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (Lords Sitting of 21 July 1948)", "Earl Mountbatten of Burma (Lords Sitting of 21 July 1948)", "Prince Philip: Parliament to pay tribute", "The Duke of Edinburgh > Military involvement", "Emma Soames: As Churchills we're proud to do our duty", "Prince Philip: The man at the Queen's side", "Memorandum of Understanding on Royal Taxation", "Prince Philip (HRH The Duke of Edinburgh)", "Prince Philip: The Duke of Edinburgh and Wales in light and dark times", "First TV interview by a member of the Royal Family", "Full episode: Prince Philip talks about the Queen, the Beatles and his view of reporters", "Duke of Edinburgh attended boxing match as first of 22,000 official duties", "His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG Kt OM GBE FRS Statute 12", "His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. [132] He was discharged on 27 December. Read about our approach to external linking. During the visit, the Queen and Lord Mountbatten asked his nephew Philip to escort the King's two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, who were Philip's third cousins through Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and second cousins once removed through King ChristianIX of Denmark. [29] After the invasion of Greece by Italy in October 1940, he was transferred from the Indian Ocean to the battleship HMSValiant in the Mediterranean Fleet. Both were also descended from King ChristianIX of Denmark.[38]. . Philip was also known for supporting numerous charities, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, and for his outspoken right-wing views. In the third row, the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex will be either side of their cousin Peter Philips. He retired from his royal duties on 2 August 2017, aged 96, having completed 22,219 solo engagements and 5,493 speeches from 1952. A sports enthusiast, Philip helped develop the equestrian event of carriage driving. Instead, their cousin Peter Philips will walk between them. [78], In the early 1950s, Philip's sister-in-law, Princess Margaret, considered marrying a divorced older man, Peter Townsend. [101] He helped found the Australian Conservation Foundation in 1963 and the World Wildlife Fund in 1961 and served as the latter's UK president from 1961 to 1982, international president from 1981, and president emeritus from 1996. Alternate titles: Philip Mountbatten, Philip, prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. [162] In July 2020, he stepped down as Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, a position he had held since 2007. [9], Greece suffered great losses in the war, and the Turks made large gains. An eyewitness who came to the prince's aid described having to wipe blood off his hands. His paternal grandmother Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovna of Russia was the granddaughter of Emperor NicholasI of Russia. The Queen has decided that there will be no military uniforms worn by members of the Royal Family on Saturday. Philip, duke of Edinburgh See all media Born: June 10, 1921 Corfu Greece Died: April 9, 2021 (aged 99) Windsor Castle England House / Dynasty: house of Windsor Notable Family Members: spouse Elizabeth II daughter Anne, the Princess Royal son Charles III son Prince Edward, earl of Wessex son Prince Andrew, duke of York . [215] For example, in May 1999, British newspapers accused Philip of insulting deaf children at a pop concert in Wales by saying: "No wonder you are deaf listening to this row. At the time of his birth, he was sixth in line to the Greek throne. The order of the funeral procession has revealed that the duke's grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry, will not walk alongside one another. Philip left active military service when Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952, having reached the rank of commander. "[43] Later biographies reported that Elizabeth's mother had reservations about the union initially, and teased Philip as "the Hun". [34] In October of the same year, aged 21, Philip became first lieutenant of HMS Wallace. Charles, Andrew, Anne, and Edward were his four children with Elizabeth. [126] After the Evening Standard reported that Philip had prostate cancer, Buckingham Palace which usually refuses to comment on health rumours denied the story[127] and the paper retracted it. The inhabitants of some villages on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu, worship Prince Philip as a god-like spiritual figure; the islanders possess portraits of the Duke and hold feasts on his birthday. In the same year, he also established the Commonwealth Study Conferences. [93] He was appointed a fellow of the Royal Society in 1951. Philip was made Earl of Merioneth, Duke of Edinburgh, and Baron Greenwich on the morning of the wedding. On February 28, 1947, Philip became a British subject, renouncing his right to the Greek and Danish thrones and taking his mothers surname, Mountbatten. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Showbiz; all; Most Read; . His outspoken right-wing views, the public expression of which he sometimes found hard to resist, occasionally embarrassed a monarchy trying to put aside its traditional upper-crust image. His mother was Princess Alice (18851969), who was the eldest daughter of Louis Alexander Mountbatten, 1st marquess of Milford Haven, and Princess Victoria of Hesse and the Rhine, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. [223] In the same month, a documentary originally planned for his centenary was broadcast on BBC One under the title Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, with contributions from his children, son and daughters-in-law, and seven of his grandchildren. The fourth and last child of Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip is . [103][104] Despite his involvement in initiatives for conserving nature, he was also criticised for practices such as fox hunting and shooting of game birds[102] and the killing of a tiger in India in 1961. [244] His paternal grandfather GeorgeI of Greece, born Prince William of Denmark, was a brother of Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark), wife of Emperor AlexanderIII. The full order of service will be released on Friday evening. [92] He was president of the National Playing Fields Association (now known as Fields in Trust) for 64 years, from 1947 until his grandson Prince William took over the role in 2013. Read about our approach to external linking. [229], Philip was awarded medals from Britain, France, and Greece for his service during World War II, as well as ones commemorating the coronation of GeorgeVI and ElizabethII and the silver, gold and diamond jubilees of Elizabeth. It was Philip who broke the news to Elizabeth at Sagana Lodge, and the royal party immediately returned to the United Kingdom. Philip's uncle and high commander of the Greek expeditionary force, King ConstantineI, was blamed for the defeat and was forced to abdicate on 27 September 1922. In 2011, to mark his 90th birthday, Elizabeth conferred on him the title and office of lord high admiral, the titular head of the Royal Navy. [182][183], Representatives of countries around the world sent condolences to the royal family upon his death. 4. [15] Philip had little contact with his mother for the remainder of his childhood. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II 's husband of 73 years, died on Friday. In 1992, he said that he "could understand a certain amount". Philip was born to Prince Andrew, a son of King George I of Greece, and Princess Alice. Philip continued on active service with the Royal Navy, commanding the frigate Magpie, until Elizabeths accession on February 6, 1952, from which time he shared her official and public life. The press accused Philip of being hostile to the match, to which he replied: "I haven't done anything." Died: April 9, 2021. "[218] Philip's comparison of prostitutes and wives was also perceived as offensive after he reportedly stated: "I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing. In July 1939, he began corresponding with the 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth, the elder daughter and heir presumptive of King GeorgeVI. How did Philip, duke of Edinburgh, become famous? [38] Elizabeth fell in love with Philip, and they began to exchange letters when she was 13. Philip was born on June 10, 1921, in Corfu, Greece. [33], Promotion to lieutenant followed on 16 July 1942. His body is now resting in the private chapel at the castle. [189], A service of thanksgiving for his life took place at Westminster Abbey on 29 March 2022 with the Queen, foreign royalty and politicians in attendance. In 1957, he was created a British prince. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 109 languages Read View source View history Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, [1] later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 1921 [fn 1] - 9 April 2021) was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. [111] In 2017, the British Heart Foundation thanked Prince Philip for being its patron for 55 years, during which time, in addition to organising fundraisers, he "supported the creation of nine BHF-funded centres of excellence". [159], From 20 to 24 December 2019, Philip stayed at King Edward VII's Hospital and received treatment for a "pre-existing condition", in a visit described by Buckingham Palace as a "precautionary measure". [12] In 1930, Philip was sent to the United Kingdom, living with his maternal grandmother, Victoria Mountbatten, Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, at Kensington Palace and his uncle, George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, at Lynden Manor in Bray, Berkshire. [230] He was appointed by GeorgeVI to the Order of the Garter on 19 November 1947, the eve of his wedding. [153] Philip attended hospital the next morning as a precaution. The commanding officer of the army, General Georgios Hatzianestis, and five senior politicians were arrested, tried, and executed in the Trial of the Six. When he was an infant, his family was exiled, and it later disintegrated: his mother was institutionalized, his father left with his mistress, and Philips four elder sisters married. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne, who was Philip's carriage driving partner and one of his closest friends will also be in attendance. It is made up of the medals and decorations conferred on him by UK and Commonwealth countries - together with his Royal Air Force wings and Field Marshal's baton, and insignia from Denmark and Greece, highlighting his birth heritage as a prince of Greece and Denmark. And, Often, His Foot", "King's College staff outraged over photo of 'racist' Prince Philip", "The chequered legacy of Prince Philip's notorious 'gaffes', "Duke of Edinburgh gaffes by mocking blind boy", "Palace exhibitions to celebrate Prince Philip's life", "Prince Philip's life to be celebrated in new exhibitions at Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse", "Queen Elizabeth Is Given a New Rose Named in Honor of Prince Philip", "The Queen presented with newly bred rose in touching tribute to Prince Philip", "Prince Philip Is Honored with a Duke of Edinburgh Lifeboat on a Meaningful Anniversary", "Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, review: this tribute was lovingly unfussy just like him", "The Crown: Tobias Menzies cast as new Prince Philip", "Jonathan Pryce: Netflix's The Crown casts its final Prince Philip", "The British Novelist Who Turned A Class System Upside Down", "Royalty Debrett's Guide to British Behaviour", "Full list of Prince Philip's military medals and what they were awarded for", "The Duke of York is appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards", "The Duke of Edinburgh Hands Air Cadet Patronage to The Duchess of Cambridge, 16 December 2015", "The Duke of Edinburgh appointed Lord High Admiral", "PM announces the appointment of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to the highest ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces", "Queen grants new honour to Prince Philip for 70th wedding anniversary", The Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Family website, Newspaper clippings about Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Portraits of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prince_Philip,_Duke_of_Edinburgh&oldid=1142742441, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 03:30. Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle on Friday 9 April aged 99. (1921-2021). [172], Philip died of "old age"[173][fn 4] on the morning of 9 April 2021 at Windsor Castle, at the age of 99. The 67-year-old countess is the wife of Earl Mountbatten, Norton Knatchbull - the grandson of Prince Philip's uncle the 1st Earl Mountbatten, who was killed by the IRA in 1979. Royals release new photos of Prince Philip, Rehearsals take place for Prince Philip's funeral, A turbulent childhood stalked by exile, illness and death, Who he was, what he did and why he mattered, An extraordinary man who led an extraordinary life, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, US lawyer jailed for murdering wife and son, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Philip, duke of Edinburgh. He was a patron, president, or member of over 780 organisations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, and served as chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a youth awards program for people aged 14 to 24. Obituary: HRH the Duke of Edinburgh Who he was, what he did and why he mattered Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle on Friday 9 April aged 99. At the time, Philip was on holiday at Balmoral with the extended royal family. A Palace spokesman said the plans have been modified to take into account current public health guidelines, but the ceremonial aspects of the day and the service remain in line with the duke's wishes. I certainly didn't take any offence. [142] He spent two nights in the hospital and was unable to attend the State Opening of Parliament and Royal Ascot. Baptized on 10 July, her godparents were King George V of the United Kingdom, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Vera Konstantinovna of Russia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [86] Remarks he made two years later to the Canadian Medical Association on the subject of youth and sport were taken as a suggestion that Canadian children were out of shape. [68], On 8 February 1960, several years after the death of Queen Mary and the resignation of Churchill as prime minister, the Queen issued an Order in Council declaring that Mountbatten-Windsor would be the surname of her and her husband's male-line descendants who are not styled as Royal Highness or titled as prince or princess. Princes Charles, Andrew, Edward and Princess Anne, as well as grandsons Princes William and Harry, will follow a Land Rover hearse in a procession to St George's Chapel, Windsor. [22], Because Philip left Greece as an infant, he did not speak Greek. "[197] He was patron of the Royal Society of Arts from 1952 until 2011. Prince Philip: Duke's support for Aberfan families remembered. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip 's third child and second son, Prince Andrew, was born on Feb. 19, 1960. [231], Upon his wife's accession to the throne in 1952, the Duke was appointed Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, Colonel-in-Chief of the British Army Cadet Force, and Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Air Training Corps. Reared chiefly in Great Britain, Philip was educated at Gordonstoun School, near Elgin, Moray, Scotland, and at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, England. Buckingham Palace won't comment on this decision. While much of his time was spent fulfilling the duties of his station, Philip engaged in a variety of philanthropic endeavours. Of the tributes paid to Prince Philip over recent days, Buckingham Palace said the Queen and the family had been touched at the testimony around "the remarkable life and lasting endeavours of the Duke of Edinburgh". The King granted his request, provided that any formal engagement be delayed until Elizabeth's 21st birthday the following April. Philip, duke of Edinburgh, in full Prince Philip, duke of Edinburgh, earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, also called Philip Mountbatten, original name Philip, prince of Greece and Denmark, (born June 10, 1921, Corfu, Greecedied April 9, 2021, Windsor Castle, England), husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Philip had no financial standing, was foreign-born, and had sisters who had married German noblemen with Nazi links. After being educated in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, he joined the Royal Navy in 1939, when he was 18 years old. In their statement, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Philip passed away "peacefully" on the morning of April 9, 2021, at his home in Windsor Palace. [134] He was discharged from hospital on 9 June. [56] He, his sons and other royals ceased to be members of the House of Lords following the House of Lords Act 1999, although Philip's former brother-in-law, Lord Snowdon, remained in the House. Updates? [73], Prince Philip received a Parliamentary annuity (of 359,000 since 1990[fn 3]) that served to meet official expenses in carrying out public duties. Philip, Alexandra Feodorovna, and her children are all descended from Princess Alice, the daughter of Queen Victoria, through a purely female line. The new military government arrested Prince Andrew, along with others. [111] In April 2014, it was reported that an old British Path newsreel film had been discovered of Philip's 1962 two-month flying tour of South America. The duke's association with the Royal Navy will be reflected at the service, with buglers of the Royal Marines sounding Action Stations - a signal that all hands should be ready for battle - during the service. Duke of Edinburgh admired his four children, but was frustrated at not being allowed to pass on his family name. For six months, over 19531954, Philip and Elizabeth toured the Commonwealth; as with previous tours, the children were left in Britain. [50] In post-war Britain, it was not acceptable for any of the Duke of Edinburgh's German relations to be invited to the wedding, including Philip's three surviving sisters, all of whom had married German princes. He served as president of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) from 1981 to 1996, and his International Award program allowed more than six million young adults to engage in community service, leadership development, and physical fitness activities. Philip was also related to the House of Romanov through all four of his grandparents. [114] Charles felt pressured by his father to make a decision and did so, proposing to Diana in February. The Queen and Philip hosted a meeting between Charles and Diana, trying to effect a reconciliation, but without success. Parker was created Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1953, and Commander (CVO) in 1957. [138] Tony Abbott's surprise 2015 decision to make Philip a Knight of the Order of Australia was widely criticised in the country and contributed to Abbott's ouster as its prime minister. Philip was born to Prince Andrew, a son of King George I of Greece, and Princess Alice. On 6 February 1952, they were in Kenya when Elizabeth's father died and she became queen. [139][140][141] In June 2017, Philip was taken from Windsor to London and admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital after being diagnosed with an infection. [81] The Queen and the children remained in the UK. In England and Wales, "old age" may be given as a cause of death for a decedent aged 80 or older by a physician who has "cared for the deceased over a long period" and "observed a gradual decline in [the] patient's general health" if there is no known "identifiable disease or injury that contributed to the death". The crazy life of the boxing champion and his family, "Once you're in the system you never get out", AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, US sues Exxon over nooses found at Louisiana plant, Biden had skin cancer lesion removed - White House. Corrections? The Duke of Edinburgh personally selected the regalia that will be on the altar for his funeral. Created by British rose breeder Harkness Roses, it was christened 'The Duke of Edinburgh Rose'. An official statement said he was uninjured. [20] The following year, his uncle and guardian Lord Milford Haven died of bone marrow cancer. [219][220] George Alexis Weymouth's portrait of the Duke in the ruins of the Castle after the fire of 1992 formed part of a focus on Philip's involvement with the subsequent restoration. On 21 October 1966, the village of Aberfan in south Wales was . This meant the Duke took precedence over his eldest son, Prince Charles, except, officially, in the British parliament. [18] In 1937, his sister Cecilie, her husband Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse, her two young sons Ludwig and Alexander, her newborn infant, and her mother-in-law, Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, were killed in an air crash at Ostend; Philip, then 16 years old, attended the funeral in Darmstadt. Prince Philip funeral: What are the plans and timings? Prince Philip did not have the title of king because of British royal tradition whereby a man marrying into the royal family does not assume the male version of the title held by his wife. [178][180] The usual public ceremonial could not take place because of the regulations for the COVID-19 pandemic which restricted the number of mourners to thirty; it was later reported in the press that the Queen had rejected a government offer to relax the rules. [112] He was an honorary fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge.[113]. As such, he served as the consort of the British monarch from Elizabeth's accession as queen on 6 February 1952 until his death in 2021, making him the longest-serving royal consort in history. [84] On 22 February 1957, she granted her husband the style and title of a Prince of the United Kingdom by Letters Patent; it was gazetted that he was to be known as "His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh". The Queen, Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, was given the deep pink commemorative rose in honour of her husband, and she remarked that "It looks lovely". [137] On 21 May 2014, the Prince appeared in public with a bandage on his right hand after a "minor procedure" was performed in Buckingham Palace the preceding day. For other uses, see, Honours and honorary military appointments, Philip was born on 10June 1921 according to the. He said the service will be a reflection of Prince Philip's military affiliations and personal elements of his life. He was also awarded the Greek War Cross. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Prince Philip in 1951 with Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, and their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Clarence House, the royal couple's London residence. However, according to one journalist writing in 1983, both Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten, and the Queen Mother had unfavourable views of Freemasonry; after his initiation, Philip took no further part in the organisation. This is the funeral the Duke of Edinburgh wanted for himself. It exists in the interests of the people. The Countess Mountbatten of Burma - seen here with Prince Philip in 2009 - will be among the 30 guests at the service, All of the duke's grandchildren - including Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice - will attend the funeral, Prince Philip's coffin will be carried on a modified Land Rover, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Marlborough House in central London on Thursday to see floral tributes for Prince Philip, How to follow the funeral on the BBC TV and radio. The procession to the chapel will be headed by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the the Major General's party and military service chiefs. Their oldest child, Prince Charles, is the heir . Members of the Royal Family will walk behind the coffin. The one element he perhaps didn't account for was the family tension. [23] Philip was raised as a Greek Orthodox Christian. Their marriage was the longest of any British monarch, lasting more than 73 years until Philip's death in 2021. (His fathers family name had been Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glcksburg.) [108] In the same year, Philip became president of the Council of Engineering Institutions and in that capacity he assisted with the inception of the Fellowship of Engineering (later the Royal Academy of Engineering), of which he later became the senior fellow. 1. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, was also known as Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and. "[213] In Australia he asked an Indigenous Australian entrepreneur: "Do you still throw spears at each other? [59] On 16 July 1950, he was promoted to lieutenant commander and given command of the frigate HMSMagpie. He is married to Sarah, Duchess of York, and is currently 61 years old. Prime Minister Theresa May thanked him for "a remarkable lifetime of service". He later said that the Duke was very supportive and "the Queen was wonderful throughout. At the beginning of 1981, Philip wrote to his son Charles, counselling him to make up his mind to either propose to Lady Diana Spencer or break off their courtship.