As he approaches his 90th birthday, the Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II (who is also his cousin), has joked: "bits are beginning to drop off."
The Duke, aka Prince Philip, who is known for his politically incorrect "Prince Philipisms", reaches the milestone on 10th June and, in a letter to a magazine which celebrates the achievements of the elderly, he admitted that time is passing “ever more quickly” as he prepares to enter his tenth decade, with the inevitable effect on his “morale”.
Last year, Philip decided to scale back his public duties because of his age but, despite this, he still works tirelessly for the country despite the fact that, if he were an "ordinary person", he could have retired about 25 years ago. Last year he attended more than 350 official engagements, many of them with the Queen, and he will remain involved with more than 800 organisations.
Now, the Oldie magazine has presented the World War II veteran with an award for Consort of the Year. Not being able to receive the award in person, the Duke wrote a letter to the magazine to apologise, a letter which shows that, despite his grand age, he had not lost his renowned sense of humour.
“I much appreciate your invitation to receive an 'Oldie of the Year Award,” the Duke wrote.
“There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all."
Philip was born on 10th June 1921 at the Villa Mon Repos on the Greek island of Corfu. At birth he was a member of both the Greek and Danish royal families (Greece is now a republic). His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and his mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg.
He was educated in Germany and Britain at schools run by the German Jewish educator Kurt Hahn. At the age of 18, when war broke out, he joined the Royal Navy even though two of his German brothers-in-law fought on the opposing side.
He spent four months on the battleship HMS Ramillies, protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean, followed by shorter postings on HM Ships Kent, Shropshire and in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). After the invasion of Greece by Italy in October 1940, he was transferred from the Indian Ocean to the battleship HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet. Amongst other engagements, he was involved in the Battle of Crete, was mentioned in despatches for his service during the Battle of Cape Matapan, and was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour.
In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured Dartmouth Naval College. During the visit, the Queen and Earl Mountbatten asked Philip to escort the King's two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, who were Philip's third cousins through Queen Victoria, and second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark. Elizabeth fell in love with Philip and they began to exchange letters. Eventually, in the summer of 1946, Philip asked the King for his daughter's hand in marriage. The King granted his request providing any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth's twenty-first birthday the following April. He married Princess Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth II in February 1952, in November 1947. The day preceding his wedding, King George VI bestowed the style His Royal Highness on Philip, and on the morning of the wedding he was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London.
Times have changed. Kate Middleton, who is to marry future king Prince William on 29th April and will therefore, like Philip, be a consort to the monarch one day (she'll be given the title Queen but not actually be one), is a commoner, decended from a long line of County Durham coalminers and whose mother was an air hostess.
Duke of Edinburgh admits: 'bits beginning to drop off ancient frame'
He has refused to allow his age to affect his energetic lifestyle, but as he approaches his 90th birthday, the Duke of Edinburgh has admitted that “bits are beginning to drop off” as the advancing years finally take their toll.
The Duke announced last year that he would be cutting back on his public duties in his first concession to old age Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attend a service this week to mark the 59th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
Photo: PA
The letter written by the Duke of Edinburgh to The Oldie Magazine
By Andrew Hough
10 Feb 2011
The Telegraph
In a self-effacing letter to the organisers of an awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the elderly, the Duke admitted that time is passing “ever more quickly” as he prepares to enter his tenth decade, with the inevitable effect on his “morale”.
The Duke, who continues to pursue his hobby of carriage driving despite injuring himself several times recently, announced last year that he would be cutting back on his public duties in his first concession to old age.
But in accepting an award as Consort of the Year from the publishers of the Oldie magazine, the Duke showed he has not allowed physical frailty to affect his sense of humour.
His typically blunt comments were made in a letter seen by The Daily Telegraph, in which the Duke apologised for not being able to appear in person to collect his award at the Oldie of the Year ceremony, which is being held on Thursday.
“I much appreciate your invitation to receive an 'Oldie of the Year Award’,” the Duke wrote.
“There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all.
“I regret not being able to receive the Award in person, but I will not be conveniently in reach of London at the time.”
He added: “I hope the party at Simpsons will be a great success.” The letter, on Sandringham House letterhead, is signed “Philip”.
The letter will be read out to the audience at Simpsons-in-the-Strand by Sir Terry Wogan, the chair of the judging panel.
A selection of Prince Philipisms
Are you Indian or Pakistani? I can never tell the difference between you chaps.
At Washington Embassy reception for Commonwealth members.
British women can't cook. They are very good at decorating food and making it attractive. But they have an inability to cook.
Addressing mainly female audience at Scottish Rural Women's Institute Display in 1966.
Do you still throw spears at each other?
To Australian Aborigines, during a visit to Queensland, 2002.
If you travel as much as we do, you appreciate how much more aircraft have become. Unless you travel in something called economy class, which sounds ghastly.
During Golden Jubilee tour in 2002.
I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing.
Speech in December 1988, dismissing claims that those who sell slaughtered meat have greater moral authority than those who participate in blood sports.
Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf.
To group of deaf children standing next to Jamaican steel drum band, on visit to the new National Assembly (parliament) for Wales, 1999.
When a man opens the car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife.
March 1988.
Dontopedalogy is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, a science which I have practiced for a good many years.
Address to General Dental Council, quoted in Time November 21, 1960.
How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?
To Scottish driving instructor, 1995.
Tolerance is the one essential ingredient … You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.
His recipe for a successful marriage, during celebrations for their golden wedding anniversary, November 1997.
Richard Ingrams, editor of The Oldie magazine and one of the award’s judges, told The Daily Telegraph: “I am delighted to receive the Duke’s letter and honoured that he has accepted his award. I will offer him a column in The Oldie.”
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman added: “He is clearly delighted to be receiving the award.”
Previous winners of the “Oldie of the Year” awards have included Joanna Lumley, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the late Sir John Mortimer and David Gower. The Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke's daughter-in-law, was awarded “Spouse of the Year” in 2006.
The awards, established in 1992, recognise the best efforts of Britain’s “oldies”, from MPs to campaigners.
Royal aides stress the Duke is “still very active” and in excellent health despite several recent ailments.
In June last year he had surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by pressure on a nerve in the wrist and can lead to pain, numbness and a burning sensation in the hand and forearm. He left hospital the same day.
He also suffered a “minor injury” to his ankle after hitting a tree stump while carriage driving in Windsor Great Park, and in 2009 he was forced to cancel several Royal engagements after pulling a muscle in his back while driving a carriage.
The Duke (shown above in 2006) still enjoys riding his carriage at speed despite suffering several injuries in recent years
The Duke, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on June 10, will relinquish official roles with more than a dozen organisations after his birthday.
Last year he attended more than 350 official engagements, many of them with the Queen, and he will remain involved with more than 800 organisations.
In 2004 the Duke published a book, 30 Years On and Off The Box Seat, about his passion for carriage driving, and declared his intention to continue as long as possible.
“I am getting old,” he wrote. “My reactions are getting slower and my memory is unreliable. But I have not lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside.”
telegraph.co.uk
wikipedia.org
The Duke, aka Prince Philip, who is known for his politically incorrect "Prince Philipisms", reaches the milestone on 10th June and, in a letter to a magazine which celebrates the achievements of the elderly, he admitted that time is passing “ever more quickly” as he prepares to enter his tenth decade, with the inevitable effect on his “morale”.
Last year, Philip decided to scale back his public duties because of his age but, despite this, he still works tirelessly for the country despite the fact that, if he were an "ordinary person", he could have retired about 25 years ago. Last year he attended more than 350 official engagements, many of them with the Queen, and he will remain involved with more than 800 organisations.
Now, the Oldie magazine has presented the World War II veteran with an award for Consort of the Year. Not being able to receive the award in person, the Duke wrote a letter to the magazine to apologise, a letter which shows that, despite his grand age, he had not lost his renowned sense of humour.
“I much appreciate your invitation to receive an 'Oldie of the Year Award,” the Duke wrote.
“There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all."
Philip was born on 10th June 1921 at the Villa Mon Repos on the Greek island of Corfu. At birth he was a member of both the Greek and Danish royal families (Greece is now a republic). His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and his mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg.
He was educated in Germany and Britain at schools run by the German Jewish educator Kurt Hahn. At the age of 18, when war broke out, he joined the Royal Navy even though two of his German brothers-in-law fought on the opposing side.
He spent four months on the battleship HMS Ramillies, protecting convoys of the Australian Expeditionary Force in the Indian Ocean, followed by shorter postings on HM Ships Kent, Shropshire and in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). After the invasion of Greece by Italy in October 1940, he was transferred from the Indian Ocean to the battleship HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet. Amongst other engagements, he was involved in the Battle of Crete, was mentioned in despatches for his service during the Battle of Cape Matapan, and was awarded the Greek War Cross of Valour.
In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured Dartmouth Naval College. During the visit, the Queen and Earl Mountbatten asked Philip to escort the King's two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, who were Philip's third cousins through Queen Victoria, and second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark. Elizabeth fell in love with Philip and they began to exchange letters. Eventually, in the summer of 1946, Philip asked the King for his daughter's hand in marriage. The King granted his request providing any formal engagement was delayed until Elizabeth's twenty-first birthday the following April. He married Princess Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth II in February 1952, in November 1947. The day preceding his wedding, King George VI bestowed the style His Royal Highness on Philip, and on the morning of the wedding he was made the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London.
Times have changed. Kate Middleton, who is to marry future king Prince William on 29th April and will therefore, like Philip, be a consort to the monarch one day (she'll be given the title Queen but not actually be one), is a commoner, decended from a long line of County Durham coalminers and whose mother was an air hostess.
Duke of Edinburgh admits: 'bits beginning to drop off ancient frame'
He has refused to allow his age to affect his energetic lifestyle, but as he approaches his 90th birthday, the Duke of Edinburgh has admitted that “bits are beginning to drop off” as the advancing years finally take their toll.
The Duke announced last year that he would be cutting back on his public duties in his first concession to old age Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attend a service this week to mark the 59th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
Photo: PA
The letter written by the Duke of Edinburgh to The Oldie Magazine
By Andrew Hough
10 Feb 2011
The Telegraph
In a self-effacing letter to the organisers of an awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the elderly, the Duke admitted that time is passing “ever more quickly” as he prepares to enter his tenth decade, with the inevitable effect on his “morale”.
The Duke, who continues to pursue his hobby of carriage driving despite injuring himself several times recently, announced last year that he would be cutting back on his public duties in his first concession to old age.
But in accepting an award as Consort of the Year from the publishers of the Oldie magazine, the Duke showed he has not allowed physical frailty to affect his sense of humour.
His typically blunt comments were made in a letter seen by The Daily Telegraph, in which the Duke apologised for not being able to appear in person to collect his award at the Oldie of the Year ceremony, which is being held on Thursday.
“I much appreciate your invitation to receive an 'Oldie of the Year Award’,” the Duke wrote.
“There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all.
“I regret not being able to receive the Award in person, but I will not be conveniently in reach of London at the time.”
He added: “I hope the party at Simpsons will be a great success.” The letter, on Sandringham House letterhead, is signed “Philip”.
The letter will be read out to the audience at Simpsons-in-the-Strand by Sir Terry Wogan, the chair of the judging panel.
A selection of Prince Philipisms
Are you Indian or Pakistani? I can never tell the difference between you chaps.
At Washington Embassy reception for Commonwealth members.
British women can't cook. They are very good at decorating food and making it attractive. But they have an inability to cook.
Addressing mainly female audience at Scottish Rural Women's Institute Display in 1966.
Do you still throw spears at each other?
To Australian Aborigines, during a visit to Queensland, 2002.
If you travel as much as we do, you appreciate how much more aircraft have become. Unless you travel in something called economy class, which sounds ghastly.
During Golden Jubilee tour in 2002.
I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing.
Speech in December 1988, dismissing claims that those who sell slaughtered meat have greater moral authority than those who participate in blood sports.
Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf.
To group of deaf children standing next to Jamaican steel drum band, on visit to the new National Assembly (parliament) for Wales, 1999.
When a man opens the car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife.
March 1988.
Dontopedalogy is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, a science which I have practiced for a good many years.
Address to General Dental Council, quoted in Time November 21, 1960.
How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?
To Scottish driving instructor, 1995.
Tolerance is the one essential ingredient … You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.
His recipe for a successful marriage, during celebrations for their golden wedding anniversary, November 1997.
Richard Ingrams, editor of The Oldie magazine and one of the award’s judges, told The Daily Telegraph: “I am delighted to receive the Duke’s letter and honoured that he has accepted his award. I will offer him a column in The Oldie.”
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman added: “He is clearly delighted to be receiving the award.”
Previous winners of the “Oldie of the Year” awards have included Joanna Lumley, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the late Sir John Mortimer and David Gower. The Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke's daughter-in-law, was awarded “Spouse of the Year” in 2006.
The awards, established in 1992, recognise the best efforts of Britain’s “oldies”, from MPs to campaigners.
Royal aides stress the Duke is “still very active” and in excellent health despite several recent ailments.
In June last year he had surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by pressure on a nerve in the wrist and can lead to pain, numbness and a burning sensation in the hand and forearm. He left hospital the same day.
He also suffered a “minor injury” to his ankle after hitting a tree stump while carriage driving in Windsor Great Park, and in 2009 he was forced to cancel several Royal engagements after pulling a muscle in his back while driving a carriage.
The Duke (shown above in 2006) still enjoys riding his carriage at speed despite suffering several injuries in recent years
The Duke, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on June 10, will relinquish official roles with more than a dozen organisations after his birthday.
Last year he attended more than 350 official engagements, many of them with the Queen, and he will remain involved with more than 800 organisations.
In 2004 the Duke published a book, 30 Years On and Off The Box Seat, about his passion for carriage driving, and declared his intention to continue as long as possible.
“I am getting old,” he wrote. “My reactions are getting slower and my memory is unreliable. But I have not lost the sheer pleasure of driving a team through the British countryside.”
telegraph.co.uk
wikipedia.org
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