Figure 1.--

Philip was born in 1921 on Corfu into the atmosphere of extreme uncertainty and danger that shrouded the Greek royal family at that time. At the age of 18 months, he was carried aboard a Royal Navy ship, the HMS Calypso in an orange box as his mother and sisters fled the military junta that had overthrown the Greek monarchy following the country's defeat at the hands of the Turks and the influx of refugees from Turkish territory. There waas a Greek lady in waiting, a French governess, and an English nanny. The Royal Navy landed the young prince and his family at Brindisi and put them on a train to Paris. It is said that the Philip crawled everywhere on the train and was soon filthy from heaf to foot. His mother protested, but the nanny adbised leaving him be. His eldest sister tells us, "He was very active." [Heald, Philip, p. 12.] As a boy Philip had a rootless existence, drifting between the palaces of his British relatives and minor royal households of Europe--especially German. Philip was largely abandoned by his parents. (Philip's inheritance was an ivory-handled shaving brush and a few moth-eaten suits.) He learned at an early age to look after himself and be self reliant. His sisters married Germans (and fought for Germny in World war II) and for a while Philip lived in Germany. He was 12 years old when the NAZIs took over. If he had stayed in Germany he would have had to join the Hitler Youth and as a handsome, blond youth--a career in the SS may well have resulted. (An uncle was already in the SS.) Philip has never been accussed of being of having a brilliant mind or being ovely sensitive. Here as a boy, however, his judgement was impecable. He thought the NAZIs struting arround in uniforms were foolish. His Jewish Headmaster Kurt Hahn was certainly an influence here. Philip took off for England. His grandmother Victoria Alberta helped him a great deal. His Uncle George became his guardian. Uncle Dickie also took a special interest in him.

Greece

Philip was born in 1921 on Corfu into the atmosphere of extreme uncertainty and danger that shrouded the Greek royal family at that time.

Evacuation (1922)

At the age of 18 months, he was carried aboard a Royal Navy ship, the HMS Calypso in an orange box as his mother and sisters fled the military junta that had overthrown the Greek monarchy following the country's defeat at the hands of the Turks and the influx of refugees from Turkish territory. There was a Greek lady in waiting, a French governess, and an English nanny. The Royal Navy landed the young prince and his family at Brindisi and put them on a train to Paris. It is said that the Philip crawled everywhere on the train and was soon filthy from heaf to foot. His mother protested, but the nanny adbised leaving him be. His eldest sister tells us, "He was very active." [Heald, Philip, p. 12.]

Disjointed Childhhod

As a boy Philip had a rootless existence, drifting between the palaces of his British relatives and minor royal households of Europe--especially German. Philip was largely abandoned by his parents. (Philip's inheritance was an ivory-handled shaving brush and a few moth-eaten suits.) He learned at an early age to look after himself and be self reliant.

Germany (1922-33)

Philip spent much of his earliest years in Germany. His sisters married Germans (and fought for Germny in World war II) and for a while Philip lived in Germany. He was 12 years old when the NAZIs took over. If he had stayed in Germany he would have had to join the Hitler Youth and as a handsome, blond youth--a career in the SS may well have resulted. The Hitler Youth was given considerable priority by the NAZIs, but it took a few years to ramp up the program. Eventually all 10 years old had to join. (Most children wanted to do so.) One of Philip's uncles was in the SS. Philip lerft before the Hitler Youth program was expanded by the NAZIs. Philip has never been accussed of being of having a brilliant mind or being ovely sensitive. Here as a boy, however, his judgement was impecable. He thought the NAZIs struting arround in uniforms were foolish. His Jewish Headmaster Kurt Hahn was certainly an influence here. Philip took off for England.

Britain (1933- )

His grandmother Victoria Alberta helped him a great deal. His Uncle George became his guardian. Uncle Dickie also took a special interest in him. he was largely raised by his uncle George, the Marquess of Milford Haven after coming to Brtain. Philip reportedly has expressed annoyance over the fact that Earl Mountbatten sometimes claimed credit when his older uncle did so much for him. Uncle George died as a resuilt of cancer at a relatively young age.

Sources

Hahn, Kurt.: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-hahn.htm: A short biography of the founder of Salem (Germany) and Gordonstoun schools, who had a profound effect on the shaping of Prince Philip's character (as well as of his sons).

Heald, Tim. Philip: A Portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh (William Morrow and Company, Inc.: New York, 1991).

Created: 8:42 PM 12/9/2004
Last updated: 8:42 PM 12/9/2004