Ninety-nine years ago on the 10th June 1921 Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born on the island of Corfu in Greece, and remained the only son to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Whilst not British by birth Prince Phillip was related to the Royal family as a descendent of Queen Victoria.
 

On 28th February, 1947, Philip officially became a British subject, renouncing his right to the Greek and Danish thrones and taking his mother’s surname, Mountbatten as well as adopted Anglicanism as a religion. This was soon to be followed by his marriage to Princess Elizabeth which took place in Westminster Abbey on 20th November, 1947, in a ceremony that was broadcast throughout the world by radio. On the eve of his wedding, he was designated a Royal Highness and was created a Knight of the Garter, Baron Greenwich, Earl of Merioneth, and Duke of Edinburgh.
 

Philip studied at Philip Royal Naval College, Devon, England in his early years, and also served with the Royal Navy in combat in the Mediterranean and the Pacific from January 1940 until the end of World War II. Post marriage his distinguished service continued with the Royal, commanding the frigate Magpie, until Elizabeth’s accession on 6th February 1952, from which time he shared her official and public life as her royal consort.

 

For more than six decades Prince Philip has remained Queen Elizabeth II’s consort, and it is well known that he was one of the busiest royals, with more than 22,000 solo appearances over the years on behalf of the royal household before he announced his retirement from public engagements in May 2017 which saw his duties conclude after his last solo event that took place on 2nd August 2, 2017.

 

Besides his official royal duties he has also participated in a variety of philanthropic endeavours and organisations, particularly favouring those focused on the environment, athletics and education. Philip launched the renowned Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the mid-1950s, which has allowed more than six million young adults to engage in community service, leadership development, and physical fitness activities.

 

To add to his list of achievements, in 2009 Prince Philip also officially become the longest serving consort in the history of the British monarchy, trumping the record set over 200 years ago of 57 years and 70 days set by Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. Not only is he the longest-serving, but also the oldest-ever consort. His mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, or beloved Queen Mother, who died aged 101, lived longer but at the time of her death, she did not hold the position of consort, as her husband King George VI had died some 50 years before her.

 

This stunning proof coin is an acknowledgement of Prince Philip’s years of royal and community service – as summarised in Latin on the coin “non solo sed patriae”, translated “not for self but for country”.