Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Hello, my name is Prince Philip, and you may know me as the Duke of Edinburgh. My life was a long and extraordinary journey that began on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10th, 1921. I was born into royalty, holding the title of prince in two different countries at once: Greece and Denmark. However, my early life was not as settled as you might imagine. The world around me was changing quickly, and because of political trouble in Greece, my family had to leave our home in 1922 when I was only a baby. We settled in France, which marked the beginning of a life that would take me to many different countries and through many different experiences. These early years taught me to be adaptable, a skill that would prove very useful throughout my life.

My education took me to different parts of Europe, but the school that shaped me the most was Gordonstoun in Scotland, which I began attending in 1934. It was not an easy school; the days were long and filled with difficult physical and mental challenges. Gordonstoun’s motto was 'Plus est en vous,' which means 'There is more in you.' The school taught me the great importance of being self-reliant, pushing my own limits, and understanding how to work effectively as part of a team. These lessons stayed with me for my entire life. When I finished my schooling, I knew exactly what path I wanted to take. In 1939, as the world was on the brink of another great conflict, I joined the British Royal Navy as a cadet. The sea called to me, and I was filled with a sense of purpose and pride to serve Great Britain.

My career in the Royal Navy unfolded during one of the most difficult periods in modern history, the Second World War. I served aboard battleships, traveling through the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, seeing parts of the world I had only read about. The reality of war was a serious and demanding teacher. During the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941, I was serving on the battleship HMS Valiant. My specific job was to control the ship's searchlights. During a battle at night, my work helped our fleet identify and engage enemy vessels. For my actions, I was 'mentioned in despatches,' which is a special form of military recognition for commendable service. I continued to serve throughout the war and was even present in Tokyo Bay in 1945 to witness the official surrender that brought the conflict to an end.

It was during my time as a young naval cadet that my life took another important turn. In 1939, I was at the Royal Naval College when I was given the task of escorting the royal family during their visit. One of the visitors was a young princess named Elizabeth, though her family affectionately called her 'Lilibet.' We were distant cousins, but we had not known each other well before that day. We started to write letters to one another, and over the years of the war, our friendship grew stronger. After the war ended and I returned home, our connection deepened into love. We announced our engagement to the world on July 9th, 1947, and on November 20th, 1947, we were married in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey. On that day, I was granted a new title that I would carry for the rest of my life: the Duke of Edinburgh.

My life changed in a way I could never have predicted in 1952. Elizabeth's father, King George VI, passed away, and she ascended to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II. At that moment, my promising career in the Royal Navy came to an end. My new duty, my most important role, was to support the Queen in her duties to the country and the Commonwealth. I dedicated myself to public service, becoming involved with over 800 organizations. My interests were broad, ranging from encouraging scientific research and new technology to promoting sports and physical fitness. In 1956, I established a program called The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, designed to encourage young people to challenge themselves, learn new skills, and contribute to their communities. I also developed a deep concern for the natural world and, in 1961, I helped establish the World Wildlife Fund in the United Kingdom to protect our planet's endangered species.

I spent more than 70 years of my life supporting the Queen and serving the public. It was a life of immense privilege but also of profound duty. In 2017, at the age of 96, I felt the time was right to retire from my official public duties. I lived to be 99 years old. Today, I am remembered as the longest-serving royal consort in the history of Britain. The work I began many years ago continues to thrive. Millions of young people around the globe still challenge themselves through The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and the organizations I supported continue their vital work protecting wildlife and the environment for all the generations to come.