Philip Mountbatten, also known as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh passed away on April 9, 2021. He was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and a father to four children. He was also the longest serving consort in British history. 

Philip sadly passed away the morning of April 9, 2021, at Windsor Castle. He was ninety-nine. 

His funeral was held on April 17 at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. A top of his casket was his naval hat, a sword gifted to him by his father-in-law, a flag representing his Greek and Danish heritage, and flowers for Queen Elizabeth’s nickname “Lilibet.” Even though he never made it to a hundred years old he still lived an  unforgettable  and happy life. He will be greatly missed.

He was born into Greek royalty on June 10, 1921 in Corfu, Greece. On September 22, 1922 Philip’s uncle, King Constantine l was forced to abdicate the throne. Philip was then banished along with the rest of his family from Greece and moved to France. 

Shortly afterwards Philip’s mother was committed to a psychiatric institution and left his father to relocate and have little contact with the rest of the family. 

Philip was educated first at the MacJannet American School before he was sent to the United Kingdom to study at the Cheam school. In the 1930s he relocated to Germany to attend the Gordonstoun School. After he graduated he then finally finished his education at the Royal Naval College. 

From 1940 to the end of WWll, he served in the Royal Navy Combat in the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean. He became a British subject upon taking his mother’s surname name, Mountbatten and announcing his right to the Greek and Danish thrones. 

He met his second cousin, Princess Elizabeth when she was thirteen and later married her when she was twenty-one and he was twenty-six on November 20, 1947. A year later they had their first child Charles Philip Arthur George in 1948, as well as Anne Elizabeth Alice Luise in 1950, Andrew Albert Christian Edward in 1960, and Edward Anthony Richard Louis in 1964. 

He attended an average three-hundred and fifty engagements a year on behalf of the royal household. He was a huge supporter of the environment. He served as President for the World Wildlife Fund, which protected the endangered wildlife from 1991 to 1996 and warned about greenhouse gases. 

Prince Philip wasn’t always the healthiest. Before Prince Philip passed away he underwent heart surgery in March. Over the past few years he had concerned health problems undergoing repair surgeries and clogged artery fixing and recently was admitted to the ER cautiously from feeling unwell. Luckily he was strong through it all and recovered fast.

Prince Philip and the Queen didn’t take it well when Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997. His son Charles married and divorced her, but Charles and Princess Diana were in the middle of a reconciliation with when she passed away. It was ruled as an accident and they all attended her funeral where he walked with his children and grand-children.

Due to COVID-19, Prince Phillip’s funeral was held differently. Everyone wore masks and socially distanced away from each other, but still paid their respects. He did not request a eulogy, which was to remember his close ties to this military. The Queen sat alone and everyone wore masks as needed. Philip’s grandchild, Harry and William walked behind the queen and the casket along with other family members.