King George VI created Prince Philip a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1947. In April 1952 The Queen created The Duke of Edinburgh a Knight of the Thistle.

The following September she declared by Royal Warrant that he had 'place, pre-eminence and precedence' next to herself 'on all occasions and in all meetings, except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament'.

In February 1957 it was announced that The Queen had granted to The Duke of Edinburgh the style and dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom, and that in future he would be known as 'The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh'.

On his 47th birthday, in June 1968, she appointed him to the Order of Merit.

The Duke of Edinburgh holds many foreign decorations and has received Honorary Degrees from a number of universities.

He is a former Chancellor of the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Wales and Salford, and a life Governor of King's College in the University of London.