Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark; 10 June 1921 – 9 April 2021), was a prominent figure in the British royal family, best known as the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He hailed from both Greek and Danish royal lineage but was forced into exile with his family when he was just 18 months old. His education spanned France, Germany, and the UK before he joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 at the age of 18. During World War II, he served valiantly in the Mediterranean and Pacific Fleets and began a correspondence with the young Princess Elizabeth, whom he had first met in 1934.

Following the war, Prince Philip sought and received permission from King George VI to marry Elizabeth. He renounced his Greek and Danish titles and became a naturalized British citizen before their wedding on 20 November 1947. Shortly before their nuptials, he was bestowed with the title His Royal Highness and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. After Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952, Philip transitioned from active military service, achieving the rank of commander, and was made a British prince in 1957. The couple had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.

As the longest-serving consort of a reigning monarch and the oldest male member of the British royal family, Philip completed an impressive 22,219 solo engagements and delivered 5,493 speeches during his royal career. He retired from public duties in August 2017 at the age of 96 and passed away on 9 April 2021, just shy of his 100th birthday.