Reflecting On Prince Philip’s Life Of Service & Legacy On What Would Have Been His Birthday

Jun 10, 2025 by apost team

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We remember the late Prince Philip on what would have been his birthday. He and Queen Elizabeth II were married for over 70 years, which landed him the title of the longest-serving spouse of any British monarch. His passing in 2021 left his family and nation deep in mourning. 

A statement released by Buckingham Palace on Apr. 9, 2021, read, “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.” It continued, “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”

In the months leading up to his death, Philip’s health deteriorated. Admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital on Feb. 16, 2021, he underwent successful heart surgery. Despite this, he passed away weeks later. His burial took place on Apr. 17, 2021, and due to pandemic restrictions, it was a much smaller service than had been planned, with only 30 members of the immediate royal family in attendance. 

This included the queen, her and Prince Philip’s children – King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – and their spouses, the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince Harry, who flew in from California and attended alone as his wife, Meghan Markle, was heavily pregnant at the time.

Prince Philip’s life was remarkable. Born on Jun. 10, 1921, on the Greek island of Corfu, Philip was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Despite his Greek roots, the prince was primarily educated in Great Britain, attending Gordonstoun School in Scotland and the Royal Naval College in England. 

Following his service in World War II, Philip was a pilot for the British Royal Navy in the Mediterranean and Pacific. As a result, he became a British subject, which meant he had to relinquish any claim to the Greek and Danish monarchies.

In 1947, 26-year-old Philip married 21-year-old Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey. He continued his naval career until Elizabeth became queen in 1953, serving as commander of the frigate Magpie. Military historian Ashley Jackson emphasized that Philip’s service was more than symbolic, calling him “an exceptional officer.”

After Elizabeth’s accession, Philip took on the role of consort and became a highly active royal. He completed 22,219 solo engagements, visited 637 overseas destinations alone, delivered 5,496 speeches, and authored 14 books.

Originally of German nobility, Prince Philip’s grandparents changed their name from the original German version, “Battenberg,” to its English translation when they adopted English nationality during World War I. Before marrying Elizabeth, he renounced his parental royal titles and adopted his mother’s surname, Mountbatten. 

Though initially disappointed that his children would not bear his name, he later succeeded in changing it. In 1960, Elizabeth declared that her descendants without royal titles would use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor – a name now carried by Prince Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilibet.

Philip was also known for his unwavering support of the queen and his sharp wit. Prince Harry once described him as a “legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end.” In 2017, at the age of 95, Philip retired from duty after serving for more than six decades.

His health declined after retirement. He underwent hip surgery in 2018 before Harry and Meghan’s wedding. In 2019, he was involved in a car accident, after which he gave up his driver’s license voluntarily.

After Prince Philip’s death in 2021, Queen Elizabeth declared a two-week mourning period, which included her 95th birthday on Apr. 21 – her first without him during her reign. A memorial service honoring Philip was held on Mar. 29, 2022, at Westminster Abbey. 

The queen attended with Prince Andrew, joined by 1,800 guests, including members of the royal family and representatives of Philip’s numerous charities. This larger tribute followed his 2021 funeral, which had been limited to 30 guests due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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Philip left a profound legacy, particularly through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), a youth program he founded as an alternative to the Boy Scouts. It focuses on personal development in areas like sports, arts, volunteering, and outdoor expeditions. Open to youth aged 14 to 25, the DofE program is now active in 144 countries.

Privately, Philip was known as a devoted partner. Queen Elizabeth once said, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years.” Following her death on Sept. 8, 2022, Philip was laid to rest beside her in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

People reported that during his coronation in 2023, King Charles III personally requested a special tribute to honor his father. Greek Orthodox music was included in the service, acknowledging Philip’s Greek heritage and baptism in the Greek Orthodox Church before converting to Anglicanism in 1947.

In a heartfelt tribute, King Charles remembered his father as “a very special person” and paid tribute to his decades of service. He continued:

“For the last 70 years, he has given the most remarkable, devoted service to The Queen, to my family, and to the country, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth.” 

In May 2024, Tatler reported that King Charles became patron of Gordonstoun, continuing Prince Philip’s legacy. Both attended the Scottish boarding school, though Charles famously disliked it, once calling it “absolute hell.” 

In a letter, he described being bullied and sleep-deprived. Despite his early struggles, Charles later praised Gordonstoun, saying in a 1975 speech:

“I am lucky in that I believe it taught me a great deal about myself and my own abilities and disabilities. It taught me to accept challenges and take the initiative.”

Gordonstoun expressed pride in having educated a king, noting that the school had nurtured Charles’s love for service, nature, and the arts.

Prince Philip’s legacy is truly admirable. What do you have to say about this honorable patriarch? Let us know, and then pass this along to your family, friends and other royal family fans out there!