Philip prepares for 98th birthday celebrations
The Duke of Edinburgh, who was born on June 10 1921, retired in 2017 after spending decades devoting his life to public duty.
The Duke of Edinburgh is about to celebrate his 98th birthday.
Philip, who has been married to the Queen for more than 71 years, turns one year older on Monday.
Edging closer to his milestone 100th birthday in 2021, he was spotted in good form last month, laughing and joking with the royals at Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding.
As expected, the duke, who retired from public duties in 2017 after decades of royal service, did not take part in the official events as part of the US state visit and did not meet US president Donald Trump behind the scenes.
He was left a personalised Air Force One jacket as a gift from Mr Trump and First Lady Melania.
He still carriage rides and was seen at the reins at the Windsor Horse Show in May.
Philip, alongside the monarch, Harry, Meghan and the duchess’s mother Doria Ragland, appeared in a family photograph with the latest addition to the Windsor family when Archie was only two days old.
Other family celebrations over the past year have included the wedding of the Queen and the duke’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank in October, and the Prince of Wales’s 70th birthday in November.
The duke had a dramatic start to 2019 when he was involved in a serious car crash.
The Land Rover Freelander he was driving flipped over after being hit by another vehicle carrying two women and a baby near the Sandringham estate in January
The duke, who was miraculously unhurt, had to be rescued through the window by a passing motorist.
Passenger Emma Fairweather, who broke her wrist, called for Philip to be prosecuted if he was found to be at fault.
The duke later apologised for his part in the incident and voluntarily surrendered his licence, with the Crown Prosecution Service saying he would face no further action.
He is still legally allowed to drive around private royal estates and has been seen doing so in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born on the island of Corfu on June 10 1921 to Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg.
His early years were marked by upheaval after the family went into exile following a military coup in Greece which overthrew Philip’s uncle, King Constantine I.
Philip went on to join the Royal Navy and, while a cadet, he caught the eye of a 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth.
He served with distinction during the Second World War and his friendship with the princess grew into love.
Within five years, George VI had died and Princess Elizabeth had become Queen.
