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Prince Philip retired from his royal duties last year at the age of 96.
When he retired on August 2, 2017, he joked that he was “the world’s most experienced plaque-unveiler”.
Despite no longer being a prominent feature in royal events, the Prince recently attended the Royal Windsor Cup Polo on June 24 and watched Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry on May 19.
Health concerns led to his retirement, but recent events have seen the Prince waving to crowds and looking frail but happy.
What was young Prince Philip like?
Prince Philip was born in 1921 in Greece but faced exile with his family when he was just a baby.
This was due to a war with Turkey, and a new military government rising up.
He moved from country to country, with his parents separating when he was ten.
In 1939, aged 18, Philip joined the Royal Navy and became a distinguished member of the force.
He graduated as the top cadet in his class.
It was whilst staying in Windsor during wartime he met the young Elizabeth.
Philip became a British citizen after the war, adopting his mother’s parents name of Mountbatten.
He was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh and married the would-be Queen in 1947.
The pair were encouraged to wed by Philip’s uncle, Louis Mountbatten.
Philip attempted to retain his new surname and make it so that his children would be Mountbattens, however, the Queen’s grandmother Queen Mary and Winston Churchill fiercely contested the idea.
After the death of both of those who opposed the idea, in 1960 the Queen issues an Order in Council stating that those in the royal family without a royal title (Prince or Royal Highness for example) could use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
During his time as consort of the Queen, Prince Philip had 22,219 solo engagements and gave 5,496 speeches.
The Queen and Prince Philip will celebrate 71 years of marriage this year, having married on November 20, 1947.
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