1. A descendant of Queen Victoria – The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen are both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.
2. Naval service - After leaving Gordonstoun in 1939, Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy, graduating on 31st December, 1939 from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as the best cadet on his course. He was Mentioned in Despatches whilst in charge of a searchlight whilst aboard HMS Valiant during night-action off Cape Matapan in the Second World War. Shortly afterwards he was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour. He had risen to the rank of Lieutenant by the time of his engagement to Princess Elizabeth, and to the rank of Commander on The Queen’s accession to the throne.
3. Patronages - The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron of over 800 organisations in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. His first patronages date back to the late 1940s soon after his marriage to The Queen. They include the National Playing Fields Association, Federation of London Youth Clubs and The National Maritime Museum. Other, more unusual sounding patronages include the Grand Order of Water Rats, the Guinea Pig Club and the Hastings Winkle Club.
4. Environment – Prince Philip has a keen interest in the state of the natural environment. He has put this into practice by using alternative energy sources for his official car. In the 1980s he used two electric Bedford vans to travel around London. Currently he uses a Metrocab powered by Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).
5. Artist – The Duke has had a longstanding interest in art, both as an artist and collector. He invited the artist Edward Seago to accompany him in HMY Britannia for the Antarctic and later stages of his 1956/57 World Tour. A selection of The Duke’s oils have been displayed next to The Prince of Wales’ watercolours at Sandringham House.
6. Science and technology - Prince Philip has been Patron of the Industrial Society, now the Work Foundation, since 1952, and has visited research stations, laboratories and every kind of workplace in the UK, to see the practical effects of scientific research in society and to learn about industry. He is keen to promote the development of such professions in a constructive way. In 1976, for example, as President of the Council of Engineering Institutions, he initiated the Fellowship of Engineering, now the Royal Academy of Engineering, which promotes engineering excellence and education.
7. Sport – Since learning to ride in the late 1920s The Duke has always had an interest in horses. As President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1964 to 1986 Prince Philip was involved in defining the rules and regulations for several equestrian sports. Under the guidance of the Duke, International Rules were created for Carriage Driving, Long Distance Riding and Vaulting, and Veterinary Committee and Veterinary Regulations were introduced. For 30 years he competed in carriage-driving events after giving up polo in 1971. He has also been a keen sailor and cricketer.
8. Travel - Since 1952, The Duke has made over 620 solo visits to 143 countries. Prince Philip has also accompanied The Queen on all her Commonwealth tours and State visits, as well as on public engagements in all parts of the UK. The first of these was the Coronation Tour of the Commonwealth from November 1953 to May 1954, when the couple visited countries in North America, the Caribbean, Australasia, Ceylon and Africa, travelling a distance of 43,618 miles.
9. Balmoral & Sandringham Estates – After The Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952, Prince Philip was asked by Her Majesty to oversee the running of the two private Royal estates at Balmoral and Sandringham. The Duke is also Ranger of Windsor Great Park and oversaw the restoration of parts of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992.
10. The Duke of Edinburgh was the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television. The interview took place in May 1961 when Prince Philip was interviewed by Richard Dimbleby, probably on a subject related to the City & Guilds of London, of which His Royal Highness has been President since 1951.
