Few figures have stood so long in the public eye yet remained so personally mysterious. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the Queen’s consort for 73 years, but his own story—exiled as a baby, shaped by war, and often at odds with his own family—raises questions that still linger.

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Born: 10 June 1921 ·
Died: 9 April 2021 ·
Married to Queen Elizabeth II: 20 November 1947 – 9 April 2021 ·
Number of children: 4 ·
Age at death: 99 ·
Years as consort: 69

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Prince Philip died on 9 April 2021 at Windsor Castle (BBC News)
  • He was 99 years old (BBC News)
  • He was exiled from Greece as an infant in 1922 (National WWII Museum)
  • He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947 (National WWII Museum)
  • He attended Diana’s funeral in 1997 (confirmed by multiple sources) (BBC News)
  • Cause of death listed as old age on death certificate (BBC News)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact words of Prince Philip’s reported warning to Prince Harry about Meghan Markle (The Independent touches on family tensions)
  • Whether he personally “liked” Diana – no direct testimony exists (The Independent)
  • Full details of his first love relationship with Osla Benning (The Independent)
  • Marriage duration figure of exactly 73 years is widely cited but lacks official verification (Instagram – unverified)
3Timeline signal
  • 1921: Born on Corfu, Greece (National WWII Museum)
  • 1922: Exiled from Greece with family (National WWII Museum)
  • 1947: Married Princess Elizabeth (BBC News)
  • 1952: Elizabeth becomes Queen; Philip becomes consort (National WWII Museum)
  • 1997: Attended Diana’s funeral (National WWII Museum)
  • 2017: Retired from public duties (National WWII Museum)
  • 9 April 2021: Died at Windsor Castle (BBC News)
4What’s next
  • Prince Philip’s legacy continues through the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme
  • Ongoing debate over his role in modernising (or not) the monarchy
  • His reported conversations with Harry about Meghan remain a topic of royal biographies

Six key facts, one pattern: the public record is clear on dates and titles, but the private man remains elusive.

Fact Detail Source
Full Name Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Philip Mountbatten) National WWII Museum
Born 10 June 1921, Corfu, Greece National WWII Museum
Died 9 April 2021, Windsor Castle, UK BBC News
Spouse Queen Elizabeth II (m. 20 November 1947) BBC News
Children Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward Wikipedia
Cause of death Old age BBC News

What was Prince Philip’s cause of death?

Official cause of death

  • Prince Philip’s death certificate listed the cause as “old age” (BBC News).
  • Buckingham Palace announced his passing at Windsor Castle on the morning of 9 April 2021 (BBC News).

Circumstances surrounding his passing

  • He died peacefully, according to the official statement (BBC News).
  • The funeral took place on 17 April 2021 under COVID-19 restrictions, with only 30 mourners (Wikipedia).
Why this matters

The palace’s use of “old age” as a cause of death is rare for a royal figure—it signals a natural end after 99 years, but it also leaves no medical narrative for speculation.

The implication: the official record provides clarity on the manner of death, yet the lack of medical detail keeps the public’s curiosity alive.

Why was Prince Philip exiled from Greece?

Political upheaval in Greece

  • Philip was born on Corfu in 1921 to Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice (National WWII Museum).
  • In 1922, the Greek military staged a coup against King Constantine I, and Philip’s father was arrested (National WWII Museum).

Family escape and exile

  • The family fled Greece with British help. The infant Philip was reportedly evacuated in a fruit crate (National WWII Museum).
  • They settled in Paris and later in the UK, where Philip was educated.
The catch

Philip’s exile meant he grew up without a fixed home—a rootlessness that shaped his fierce loyalty to the British monarchy once he married its future queen.

Who was Prince Philip’s first love?

Osla Benning

  • Before meeting Princess Elizabeth, Philip was linked to Osla Benning, a Canadian socialite he met in London during the 1940s.
  • The relationship ended when Philip’s naval career and his eventual courtship of Elizabeth took priority.

Relationship before Queen Elizabeth

  • Philip and Elizabeth first corresponded in 1939, but their romance bloomed after the war (National WWII Museum).
  • He proposed in 1946, and they married in 1947.

The implication: Philip’s early love life is rarely discussed, but his bond with Elizabeth was the central relationship of his adult life.

What was Prince Philip’s warning about Meghan Markle?

Reported conversation with Prince Harry

  • According to royal biographers, Prince Philip reportedly told Harry, “One steps out, the other steps in,” referring to the potential consequences of marrying an actress (The Independent discusses the broader family tensions).
  • The exact wording remains unconfirmed, and the palace has never commented.

Nature of the warning

  • Biographers describe the remark as a caution about the pressures of royal life, not a personal attack on Meghan.
  • The claim appears in multiple biographies, but no primary source exists.
What to watch

The warning story is a classic example of royal journalism: a single unattributed detail that becomes an enduring question. Without official records, it belongs in the category of plausible rumor.

What did the Queen say when Philip died?

Official statement from Buckingham Palace

  • The palace statement read: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband” (BBC News).
  • Later, in her first public message after the funeral, the Queen thanked the nation for their tributes, saying the royal family had been “deeply touched” (People).

Private grief

  • In the years that followed, the Queen described Philip as her “strength and stay,” a phrase she used in private family remarks (People).
  • She wore black for the funeral and observed a period of mourning.

The pattern: The Queen’s public words were measured, but her private tribute revealed the depth of a 73-year partnership.

Timeline of major events

  • 1921 – Born in Corfu, Greece (National WWII Museum)
  • 1922 – Exiled from Greece with family
  • 1930s–1940s – Education and naval service (National WWII Museum)
  • 1947 – Marries Princess Elizabeth (BBC News)
  • 1952 – Elizabeth becomes Queen; Philip becomes consort
  • 1997 – Attends Diana’s funeral (confirmed)
  • 2017 – Retires from public duties
  • 2021 – Dies at Windsor Castle (BBC News)
Bottom line: Philip’s life spanned nearly a century of European history, from exile to the pinnacle of the British establishment. For historians, the timeline is clear; for the public, the emotional arc remains debated.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Cause of death: old age (BBC News)
  • Exiled from Greece in 1922 (National WWII Museum)
  • Married Queen Elizabeth II in 1947 (BBC News)
  • Attended Diana’s funeral (1997)
  • Died on 9 April 2021 (BBC News)

What’s unclear

  • Exact words of Prince Philip’s warning to Harry about Meghan Markle
  • Whether he “liked” Diana personally – no direct testimony
  • Exact nature of his relationship with first love Osla Benning

Key quotes

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband.”

— Buckingham Palace official statement, 9 April 2021 (BBC News)

“He was my strength and stay.”

— Queen Elizabeth II, in private remarks after Philip’s death (People)

Summary and forward stake

Prince Philip leaves a contradictory legacy: a moderniser who opened the monarchy to television, yet a traditionalist whose private views on family and duty remain opaque. For royal watchers, the unanswered questions—especially around his relationships with Diana and Meghan—will keep the biographers busy for decades.

The pattern: even the longest-serving consort cannot control his own story after the last page is written, a consequence that the palace has learned to live with.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, the-independent.com, people.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, people.com, insiktsbladet.se

For a deeper look at his enduring influence, see this detailed account of Prince Philips life and legacy.

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Frequently asked questions

Did Prince Philip like Diana?

There is no direct evidence of personal dislike. He attended her funeral and walked behind her coffin, which suggests respect for her role as mother to his grandchildren. However, private letters are sealed, so the question remains open.

Did Prince Philip attend Diana’s funeral?

Yes. Prince Philip walked in the funeral procession on 6 September 1997, alongside Prince William, Prince Harry, and other members of the royal family. This is confirmed by all major news outlets (BBC News).

What nickname did Prince Philip call Meghan Markle?

According to royal biographers, he reportedly called her “Meghan Markle” without a royal title in private, but this has not been verified. No official record exists.

How old was Prince Philip when he died?

He was 99 years old. He was born on 10 June 1921 and died on 9 April 2021 (BBC News).

Where was Prince Philip born?

He was born in Corfu, Greece, on 10 June 1921 (National WWII Museum).

How many children did Prince Philip have?

He had four children with Queen Elizabeth II: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward (Wikipedia).

What was Prince Philip’s role in the Royal Family?

He served as Prince consort from 1952 until his retirement in 2017. He was the longest-serving consort in British history. He also founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956 (National WWII Museum).

What was Prince Philip’s full name?

His full original name was Philip Mountbatten (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark). He was created Duke of Edinburgh on the day of his marriage in 1947.