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?

Thanks @Lauren15

It will do you well to remember this when you deal with people like me in the future.

I was actually listening to you until this point. Difference of opinion is all important in a democracy such as ours, although I have a feeling that you've made your opinion and aren't likely to be swayed.

Now all I can see is the Bond villain with the white cat.

I don’t think the majority of people could do what he has done.
He said himself he was ready to retire when he did at 90. He wanted a rest from constantly having to think what to say to strangers with whom he had nothing in common. Having to make inoffensive, intelligent, chit chat with randomers on a daily basis, feigning interest in their mundane lives. If it’s so easy how come Megan Markle has bottled it?
It would get on my nerves.
I can guarantee 99% of people have or will have said something someone somewhere will take offence to.

which she seems genuine about

Or she's faked it fucking well for 70 years.

I'm a bit surprised too see so many royalists on Mumsnet! Poor OP committing the dual sin of criticising the royal family whilst being a foreigner!

I too think there's been far too much fuss and gushing deference (on TV and radio) following Prince Philip's death.

He was a 99 year old man who has had a good life and I feel sympathy for his family who must be feeling sad, but his death has not had any personal impact on me whatsoever. I feel decidedly 'meh' about it.

And I don't think I'm unusual in that - I don't know a single royalist amongst my family and close friends. In fact my German in-laws are more interested in the U.K. royal family than my British friends and family.

He is actually a " foreigner" op
And he just about escaped with his life when he was a toddler, he didn't have an easy childhood his mother was mentally ill and his father was absent. He was shoved from pillar to post throughout his younger years

He had a really shit childhood, read your history.

Most of the English you all lump together do recognise that very old people die. And that it is desperately sad for the surviving partner. Oh, and quite a few of us weren't really that bothered about an entitled Sloane too daft to wear a seatbelt in a car chase.

I'm not making excuses btw but he didn't start out a privileged English man

The job you do that’s so important to us OP? Is it important in your own country too?

If so, can you explain what brought you to the UK?

He had his naval career before he met the queen.

Up until that point he'd had an awful life and pretty much had no parents around from age 10.

His comments he made at times were extremely un PC for 21st century.

I don't think it's class though. Many older generation people use very in PC terms because they grew up using them and sometimes they just slip out. That doesn't make it OK but explains why it happens.

I'd be more concerned with the current generation using incorrect terms in 40/50 years time because they've grown up knowing it's wrong.

I didn't like some of the stuff he said or agree with it but overall I liked him.

Very clever man who was before the times on many issues and who had a passion for giving all young people a chance.

He certainly wasn't just some random 99yo

@JayAlfredPrufrock

The job you do that’s so important to us OP? Is it important in your own country too?

If so, can you explain what brought you to the UK?

Doesn't take long for the 'go back to where you came from' to start, does it. Op doesn't have to explain her life choices to you just because she's a 'foreigner'. She's allowed to be here as much as you are.

I presume.

@tonystarksrighthand

He married the Queen of England.

Maybe educate yourself around the British Monarchy.

😂😂 The irony

I don't think it's a festival of royalists; many posters writing in recent days have prefaced posts by saying "not a royalist" before going on to write a message of condolence or acknowledge the D of E's service to his country in its many forms.

As it happens, I am a royalist but if you're not then that's ok with me. I would appreciate you having the manners to allow me to have an opinion. I understand your point of view, I am happy to discuss it. Please don't sneer at me for tugging my forelock.

I do think the coverage has been excessive. That is the fault of the media though, not the Royal Family or people that are royalists.

I can hand on heart say that I wouldn't, at a time of national mourning in any country and have a general ill-researched and goady dig at the focus of that mourning and expect not to receive a robust response.

Doesn't take long for the 'go back to where you came from' to start, does it.

TBF, it took more than four hours and 180 posts. MN isn’t exactly the BNP chatrooms.

Also, there’s the possibility that PP was merely referencing the relative value of people to different realms and organisations, which is arguably fair comment given OP has started a thread specifically to denigrate a recently deceased war hero.

@adrianmolesmole

You misrepresent me. As I expected.

Anyone is welcome here. I was merely trying to establish what it was about the UK that the OP found so desirable to use her skills here.

@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?

I think generally he seemed authentic, likable, and understandable. Admired for supporting the Queen.

Even if he was standard Joe Bloggs from down the road, he still served in WWll, which holds merit on its own even without any of the other achievements.

Op would you have made the same remarks about Sir Captain Tom Moore? Said he never actually achieved anything in his 100 years of life? Or anyone else who served in WWll? Or would you treat them with a little respect?

It is so much easier to stand and point and say what a shit job someone else has done than live the life isn't it? It is akin to 13 year old boys pointing and saying : look at what you've created - it's shit.

We know what those boys turn out like - not the optimistic sort that grow up to achieve anything or see good in anyone. (I say boys, as 13 year old girls really aren't quite so immature, so I can't find a comparison).

That really is how clever you sound trying to find phrases to jump on "foreigners" etc. What tedious, odious bores.

I think it is a very good question Pru has asked. So, what have you done today to make yourself feel so good about yourself (as the song goes). Someone living 99 years and trying each day to live a good life means so little to you that you can't imagine others may like to pause and reflect on that lifetime (which also covering a huge amount of the UK's history.

Why if people don't want to follow it or don't understand how monarchy and protocol or don't agree , don't they just ignore it and get on with their lifes
The queens rein and that of her husbands position is very long
And I find it funny how many middle class white people mostly ,go on about his racist remarks whilst many non white people who have met him speak highly of him.
Times have changed as well and what was acceptable years ago isn't now
My nan is 87 and she thinks you can't say black people as a few years back that was considered wrong .

My nan is 87 and she thinks you can't say black people as a few years back that was considered wrong.

Who considered saying Black was wrong up til only a few years ago?

And I find it funny how many middle class white people mostly ,go on about his racist remarks whilst many non white people who have met him speak highly of him.

So what? Just because some ethnic minorities find it all laughs and jokes doesn't they all do.

My 15 year old managed to stand and show respect with a minute silence both at footie and rugby yesterday infact all the 15/16 years old did
Im sure some of them know little about him or care but were able to show respect , yet fully grown adults don't seem capable

@VladmirsPoutine it was prob 90's when things like banning nursery rhymes and not saying blackboard etc was being quoted by many,
Also yes I do find it strange that many middle class white women are often telling others when they should be offended and what racism is , despite likely never ever experiencing it

Some of the tributes and coverage are a bit gushing and over the top in my opinion, but equally the 'couldn't care less about some elderly rich guy so I'll pretend he did nothing' stuff on here is equally silly and comes across as nothing more than competitive not caring, which is kinda funny when there's lots of posts about how little people care about someone.

That's before the 'so what, women give up their careers all the time' arguments. Imagine being so desperate to stick the boot into a recently deceased stranger that you refuse to see why a man stopping his career for his wife in the 1950s might have been a big deal.
Half of mumsnet = so what if Philip gave up his career, lots of women do.
Also half of mumsnet = oh no DH couldn't possibly arrange his work to do a school run and couldn't take a day off when DC are unwell. He's oh so terribly big and important at work don't you know. He has manly man things to be doing.

I'm with you OP. National mourning in this day and age, it's Victorian! But then having a royal family is totally anachronistic anyway isn't it?

The excuses for his awful behaviour and racist comments don't wash either. White people weren't all like that. He was reasonably young at the height of the US civil rights movement and moved in circles that included highly influential people closely linked with it, such as the Kennedys. His comments were unacceptable when they were made as contemporary reporting and the lasting influence on his reputation shows.

Don't even start me on the desperate media attempts to manufacture a relatable human angle either! The constant* radio phone-ins with people gushing at how they once saw the sainted Philip's ear at a parade or something and it changed their life irrevocably and left an indelible impression are hilarious and horrifying at the same time.

All this for someone who, let's be honest, didn't earn but rather was born to his position. Grips needed perhaps? As Terry Pratchett said, 'Whoever had createdhumanityhad left in a major design flaw. It was itstendency to bend at the knees.' Stand up.straight, we are all equal.

*There have been a lot. Hyperbole isn't illegal