On this day Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, celebrates his 90th birthday.
Click here to send Prince Philip a birthday greeting.
Click here for 90 Facts about the 90-year-old Prince.
Prince Philip was born in Corfu on June 10, 1921, to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg.
In 1947, the Duke of Edinburgh married Princess Elizabeth, heir presumptive to the throne. King George VI died in 1952, and Elizabeth became Queen. Her loyal consort, Prince Philip, has served her and the nation ever since.
Click here for news of Prince Philip on his birthday.
There has been a lot of press coverage of Prince Philip lately, of course, including highly favorable coverage in the Irish media. They were impressed by the royal couple's stamina.
I enjoy the Financial Times's reporting on Prince Philip.
From "Prince Philip at 90 -- An Enduring Figure", by Matthew Engel:
"He is marking his birthday by attending two engagements that might be described as routine, although not by the participants: a reception for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People then a dinner for senior colonels in the Household Division."
(Prince Philip's mother was deaf. She is remembered as "Righteous Among the Nations" at Yad Vashem.)
From "Regally Restrained", by Mansel Fletcher:
"The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 90th birthday on June 10, is the longest-serving consort in the history of the British monarchy. The service he has given to maintaining standards in men’s dress is, however, almost as notable as the duties he’s performed over the 63 years of his marriage to the Queen."
I recommend Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage, by Gyles Brandreth, W. W. Norton, 2005, to anyone who likes reading about the royal family.
UPDATE Click here for an article about the "ear defenders" Prince Philip received at today's reception for the deaf.
