Prince Philip’s Service in World War II
TLDRPrince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was a decorated World War II veteran who served in the British Royal Navy from 1940 to 1945. Born in Greece in 1922, he was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. After the Greek monarchy was overthrown, his family relocated to France, and he later received education in England, Scotland, and Germany. Prince Philip graduated at the top of his class in 1940 and went on to serve on several warships, earning a Greek War Cross for bravery during the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941. He was promoted to first lieutenant at the age of 21, making him one of the youngest lieutenants in the Royal Navy at the time. During the Sicilian invasion in 1943, he devised an ingenious plan using a decoy to protect his ship, HMS Wallace, from an enemy attack. After the war, he became a naval instructor and married Princess Elizabeth in 1947. Upon her father's death, Elizabeth became the Queen of the United Kingdom, and Prince Philip remained by her side for 73 years until his death on April 9, 2021, just two months before his 100th birthday.
Takeaways
- 👑 Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years, making him a significant figure in the British royal family.
- 🎂 He passed away on April 9, 2021, just two months before his 100th birthday.
- 🇬🇷 Born in Greece, he was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, and his family fled Greece in 1922 due to a revolutionary uprising.
- 🏠 His family settled in Paris, France, after leaving Greece, and he received his education in various schools across England, Scotland, and Germany.
- ⚓️ In 1939, Prince Philip joined the British Royal Navy and graduated at the top of his class in 1940, just as World War II began.
- 🏆 He earned a Greek War Cross for bravery during the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941 for his role in illuminating enemy ships.
- 🚢 Serving on HMS Valiant, he commanded a searchlight detachment that helped sink two Italian cruisers.
- 📢 In 1942, he was assigned to HMS Wallace and was promoted to first lieutenant, making him one of the youngest lieutenants in the Royal Navy at the time.
- 💡 During the allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, he devised an ingenious plan using a wooden raft with naval flares to decoy an enemy bomber, saving his ship.
- 🔫 After the war, Prince Philip served as a naval instructor at a land-based Royal Navy training establishment.
- 💍 He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, who later became Queen Elizabeth II upon the death of her father, King George VI.
Q & A
What was Prince Philip's title during his lifetime?
-Prince Philip held the title of Duke of Edinburgh during his lifetime.
When did Prince Philip pass away?
-Prince Philip passed away on April 9, 2021.
How long was Prince Philip married to Queen Elizabeth II?
-Prince Philip was married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years.
Where was Prince Philip born?
-Prince Philip was born in Greece.
What significant event led to Prince Philip leaving Greece as a baby?
-Prince Philip left Greece as a baby in 1922 aboard a British warship when the monarchy there was overthrown during a revolutionary uprising.
At what age was Prince Philip when he joined the British Royal Navy?
-Prince Philip joined the British Royal Navy in early 1939.
What achievement did Prince Philip earn during the Battle of Cape Matapan?
-During the Battle of Cape Matapan, Prince Philip earned a Greek War Cross for bravery.
How did Prince Philip contribute to the sinking of two Italian cruisers?
-Prince Philip was in command of a searchlight detachment on the battleship HMS Valiant, which helped illuminate two Italian cruisers, enabling the Valiant's guns to sink them.
What position did Prince Philip hold at the age of 21 in the Royal Navy?
-At the age of 21, Prince Philip was promoted to First Lieutenant, making him one of the youngest lieutenants in the Royal Navy at the time.
What was the ingenious plan Prince Philip devised to protect HMS Wallace from a Luftwaffe bomber?
-Prince Philip launched a wooden raft with naval flares, known as smoke floats, to act as a decoy. The bomber attacked the decoy, allowing HMS Wallace to escape unnoticed.
What role did Prince Philip serve in the Royal Navy after World War II?
-After the war, Prince Philip became a naval instructor at a land-based Royal Navy training establishment.
When did Prince Philip marry Princess Elizabeth, and what significant event followed five years later?
-Prince Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, and five years later, she became the Queen of the United Kingdom upon the death of her father, King George VI.
Outlines
👑 Prince Philip's Early Life and Royal Navy Service
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born in Greece to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. He fled Greece as an infant in 1922 during a revolutionary uprising and his family settled in Paris. He was educated across England, Scotland, and Germany. In 1939, he joined the British Royal Navy and graduated top of his class in 1940, just as World War II began. He served on several warships and was recognized for bravery with a Greek War Cross during the Battle of Cape Matapan. He also served on HMS Valiant and HMS Wallace, where he was promoted to first lieutenant at the young age of 21, making him one of the youngest lieutenants in the Royal Navy at the time. He played a crucial role in protecting the Allied invasion of Sicily by devising a plan to launch a decoy with naval flares, successfully misleading a Luftwaffe bomber.
🎓 Post-War Naval Career and Marriage to Princess Elizabeth
Following his service in World War II, Prince Philip transitioned to a role as a naval instructor at a land-based Royal Navy training establishment. In 1947, he married Princess Elizabeth, who later ascended to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II upon the death of her father, King George VI. Their marriage lasted for 73 years, marking a significant partnership in the royal family's history. Prince Philip passed away on April 9, 2021, just two months shy of his 100th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of service to his country and dedication to his family.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Duke of Edinburgh
💡World War II
💡Prince Philip's death
💡Marriage to Queen Elizabeth II
💡Greek War Cross
💡HMS Valiant
💡HMS Wallace
💡Royal Navy
💡Naval Engagements
💡Amphibious Invasion of Sicily
💡Naval Instructor
Highlights
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, served in World War II from 1940 to 1945.
He died on April 9, 2021, just two months before his 100th birthday.
Prince Philip was happily married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years.
He was born in Greece and was the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark.
Philip left Greece as a baby in 1922 aboard a British warship during a revolutionary uprising.
His family settled in Paris, France after leaving Greece.
He was educated at various schools in England, Scotland, and Germany.
Prince Philip joined the British Royal Navy in early 1939 and graduated at the top of his class in 1940.
He served on several warships and was involved in numerous naval engagements during World War II.
He earned a Greek War Cross for bravery during the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941.
While serving on HMS Valiant, he commanded a searchlight detachment that helped sink two Italian cruisers.
In June 1942, Prince Philip was assigned to the destroyer HMS Wallace and was later promoted to first lieutenant.
At 21 years old, he was one of the youngest lieutenants in the Royal Navy at the time.
HMS Wallace was part of the task force assigned to protect the Allied invasion of the Italian island of Sicily in July 1943.
Prince Philip devised an ingenious plan using a wooden raft with naval flares to evade a Luftwaffe bomber attack.
After the war, he became a naval instructor at a land-based Royal Navy training establishment.
Prince Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, who later became the Queen of the United Kingdom.
Transcripts
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