Prince Philip, from an foreigner's perspective

[Kishkashta]

I am not English, but have been living here for quite a while. And I just don't get what all the fuss is about with prince Philip.

Every single article I read (there are a lot of them lately...) mentions his unconventional personality and sense of humor. But the thing is, from my experience, this is just cookie cutter behavior of the (especially older male) members of the British upper class. These politically incorrect jokes that kind of just stir the water a bit and slightly off kilter behavior. I just find it weird how in these articles it is presented as something unique about him whereas in reality all these stories are just something that describes essentially his class rather than his personality.

Also I don't know how anybody can take seriously the attempts to paint his life as full of hardships (had to give up his "Navy career" to support the Queen - the only reason he had his kind of career is obviously his background and marriage, etc).

To me, from these descriptions, he just seems to be an extremely ordinary person who literally did nothing special other than existing until age 99...

Is there something I don't get about this?

He married the Queen of England.

Maybe educate yourself around the British Monarchy.

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and the hundreds of thousands of people who have benefited from it.

And a ‘pivotal patron’ and founder of the WWF.

Nice work, OP.

@tonystarksrighthand

He married the Queen of England.

Maybe educate yourself around the British Monarchy.

The Queen is also the Austalian Monarch and Head of State, so I'd say the OP has been well informed throughout her life and is entitled to an opinion of her own royal family.

I get your point, these eccentric older types are quite common, especially those with little filter yes dad am looking at you

But the D of E is a brilliant idea he had and 1000s of young people have learned so much from it. I saw a documentary about him at the weekend and he was so much more than a consort. I hadnt realised myself tbh. He was influential in conservation from the 50s for one thing and gave speeches decades ago about the environmental dangers

Is there something I don't get about this?

Yes.

1. No one is painting his life as 'full of hardships', though having his mother in a mental institution and his uncle blown up by the IRA isn't exactly easy. But he clearly did put aside career to support his wife.
2. He was in the navy of his own right before he met the Queen.
3. The DofE scheme is fantastic.
4. I don't think they are saying he was 'unique', but his position certainly was.
5. He has been by her side for 70+ years, steadfast in his support, working as a royal until into his 90s. He and the Queen represent continuity and being 'above' politics.

I suspect he killed more wildlife than he saved

An accurate summary, OP.

I am not a royalist, however it is not correct to view him as a person who did nothing during his lifetime. His role supporting the Queen meant he was present at major moments during the recent history of the UK. He had roles supporting various charities and as people have said, the Duke of Edinburgh scheme has been a fixture of UK schools for decades now and provided a huge range of opportunities for many thousands of children.

His life was not full of hardships, bar his very early life and escape from Greece, his mother's poor mental health and essentially abandonment by his father. Those are not trivial experiences for anyone regardless of their wealth.

Reading again, I have no idea why I though the OP was Aussie. Nevertheless, they're entitled to an opinion (and they aren't far off).

Don’t comment on subjects you don’t know much about - saves you sounding foolish.

Only one thing is right about your opening post. You don't get it.

I think he was independently doing pretty well in the Navy - he served with distinction in WWII long before he was engaged to Liz, and repeatedly came top of his class, so it’s highly unreasonable to say he only had his naval career because of her and his background.

@tonystarksrighthand

He married the Queen of England.

Maybe educate yourself around the British Monarchy.

Try educating yourself about Great Britain, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Her Majesty is not officially the Queen of England as there is no such title

Also I don't know how anybody can take seriously the attempts to paint his life as full of hardships (had to give up his "Navy career" to support the Queen - the only reason he had his kind of career is obviously his background and marriage, etc).

He joined the Navy long prior to his marriage. And assuredly, you don't have to marry a monarch to enlist in the Navy in this country.

Is there a reason why you've put "Navy career" in inverted commas?

You don’t have to get anything. If you can’t respect the amazing work that Prince Philip did then at least show some bloody respect for the fact that someone has lost their husband of 70-something years, their father, their grandfather. Whether you know or like someone, you can still be respectful when they die. It is not for you to “get”.

Compare him to the Queen who has never expressed an opinion about anything ever.

I think he’s had a pretty interesting life, and I imagine most men in late 80s/90s have some stories to tell.

I’m not royalist at all, and have watched less than an hour of the tributes. The press particularly the BBC seem to have over estimated the level of interest in him IMO.

Well his uncle was head of the Navy so it's not a stretch to think that that helped his career.
Also, the fact he was a Prince from birth.

@peak2021

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme and the hundreds of thousands of people who have benefited from it.

Yes, so I haven't discussed this in my comment, and I do like the DofE award. Of all the things mentioned about his life work this seems to be of some real value.

But I have read that this scheme was initiated by Philip on the insistence of his former headteacher in Gordonstoun? It seems to be indeed very much after the ethos and ideas of the school.

So while I do appreciate his work on behalf of the award it appears again to be not something due exclusively or originally to himself.

@tonystarksrighthand

He married the Queen of England.

Maybe educate yourself around the British Monarchy.

The irony.

Is there something I don’t get about this?

Yes, everything. This thread is in really bad taste. Perhaps watch a documentary or two on how much good he did, his origins and how much he gave up to be married to the Queen. Including his titles. He was a Prince in his own right. Hardly an extremely ordinary person.

@tonystarksrighthand

He married the Queen of England.

Maybe educate yourself around the British Monarchy.

I agree, that's cool.