Duke Of Edinburgh: A Question Of Fidelity

There is no proof that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was unfaithful to Queen Elizabeth II, but over the course of their 70+ year marriage, he was linked to numerous women and labelled a ladies' man.

Philip's alleged infidelity is a key plot point in Netflix's *The Crown*, and the show's creator Peter Morgan has said: Doesn't everyone in Britain know he had an affair?

In real life, royal biographers have dipped into [the subject] with a very long spoon, but one, Sarah Bradford, has alleged that she spoke to women who claimed to have had romantic relationships with the Duke.

Philip's first private secretary, Mike Parker, has insisted that Philip has been one hundred per cent faithful to the Queen. No ifs, no buts.

Prince Philip's alleged affairs

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has been the subject of many rumours regarding his fidelity to Queen Elizabeth II. While there is no concrete evidence of any affairs, he has been linked to several women over the years.

One of the most well-known rumoured relationships was between Philip and Pat Kirkwood, a stage actress and singer. The pair reportedly met on several occasions, including a dinner and dancing outing in London in 1948 while Princess Elizabeth was eight months pregnant with their first child, Prince Charles. Kirkwood denied claims of an affair until her death in 2007, and letters between the pair suggest their relationship was not romantic.

Another alleged mistress was Helene Cordet, a Greek cabaret star and lifelong friend of Philip. Cordet had two children while separated from her husband, and although Philip was their godfather and helped pay for their schooling, she denied that he was their biological father.

Other women who have been named as potential partners of Philip include Susan Barrantes, mother of Sarah Ferguson; TV presenter Katie Boyle; actresses Merle Oberon and Anna Massey; novelist Daphne du Maurier; Princess Alexandra, the Queen's cousin; and the Duchess of Abercorn, who stated that she had a "passionate friendship" with Philip but did not sleep with him.

In addition, Philip has been linked to Galina Ulanova, a Russian ballerina who performed in London in the 1950s. While there is no evidence of an affair, the second season of Netflix's *The Crown* infers that one took place.

Despite the rumours, there is no proof that Philip was unfaithful, and some sources claim that the speculation is simply a result of the gossip and hearsay that often surrounds the royal family.

The Crown's portrayal of infidelity

In the first season, the show hints at the possibility of Prince Philip's infidelity, with the character exhibiting a wandering eye during his gentleman's club lunches. The second season takes a clearer stand on the issue, with enough clues for Queen Elizabeth to confront Prince Philip about his actions.

Writer and creator Peter Morgan has been fairly open about his stance on the question of Prince Philip's infidelity, stating, "Doesn't everyone in Britain know he had an affair?". However, there has never been empirical proof of Prince Philip's infidelity, and the royal family has mostly ignored reports of it.

In the show, the Queen sends Prince Philip on a long overseas tour to keep him out of trouble after rumours of his infidelity first surface, mirroring real life, where the Queen was advised to do the same in 1956.

The Crown also depicts Prince Philip's alleged love interests, such as Galina Ulanova, a fictional ballerina, and Pat Kirkwood, a stage performer. While there is no evidence that Prince Philip had a dalliance with Ulanova, there were rumours of a relationship with Kirkwood.

The show also explores the impact of infidelity on other characters, such as Jackie lamenting JFK's straying eye and Princess Diana's affair, adding depth to the portrayal of infidelity beyond just Prince Philip.

The Duke's dedication to the Queen

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was married to Queen Elizabeth II for over 73 years, making him the longest-serving royal consort in history.

Prince Philip was born into the Greek and Danish royal families in 1921. After being educated in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, he joined the Royal Navy in 1939. During World War II, he served with distinction in the British Mediterranean and Pacific fleets.

In 1947, Philip married Elizabeth, who was then a princess and heir presumptive to the British throne. He was granted the style of His Royal Highness and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. Philip left active military service when Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952, having reached the rank of commander.

As consort, Philip supported his wife in her duties as sovereign, accompanying her to ceremonies and tours abroad. He also championed various causes, such as youth development and non-formal education, through his involvement with organisations like The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Despite facing allegations of infidelity throughout their marriage, Philip remained dedicated to the Queen. In a letter to his son, Charles, he counselled him to make a decision about his courtship with Lady Diana Spencer, demonstrating his commitment to his family and the stability of the monarchy.

Philip's dedication to the Queen was also evident in how he stepped up during challenging times, such as in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death in 1997. He accompanied his grandsons, William and Harry, to church and shielded them from intense press interest by keeping them at Balmoral Castle, where they could grieve in private.

Philip's dedication to the Queen was recognised by many, including royal expert Gyles Brandreth, who noted that "supporting the Queen has been his life." This dedication was also reflected in his willingness to put his naval career on hold and later step down from royal duties to support the Queen during significant moments, such as her Golden Jubilee year.

In conclusion, Prince Philip's dedication to Queen Elizabeth II was evident through his long-standing marriage, his support for her duties as sovereign, his commitment to their family, and his involvement in causes that were important to her.

The Duke's work with charities

The Duke of Edinburgh has been involved with a wide range of charities and patronages, particularly those focused on the environment, industry, sport, and education.

He was the patron of some 800 organisations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, and served as chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a youth awards programme for people aged 14 to 24. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been a focus of his life and work for four decades, since achieving his own Gold Award in 1986. The award was founded by Prince Philip in 1956 and helps young people build their confidence and develop key life skills. Today, nearly half a million young people are actively doing their DofE in the UK, and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is operating in more than 130 countries.

The Duke has played a leadership role in the award's development in the UK and overseas, taking on many responsibilities for its charities from his father. He has been a Trustee of the UK charity since 1988 and was chair of its International Council for 17 years. In 1999, he established the International Special Projects Group to broaden the award's reach, particularly to the most marginalised young people. The Duke continues to serve as Chairman of Trustees for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, a position he has held since 2015.

In addition to his work with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, the Duke of Edinburgh is also passionate about the arts and gives much of his time to organisations that enable young people to develop their skills through theatre and music. His patronages in this area include the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, The Orpheus Centre Trust, Creative Youth, Northern Ballet, and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.

An important focus of his work as Patron of the Production Guild of Great Britain has been widening access to opportunities in the film and TV industry. In January 2023, he presented the inaugural 'Earl of Wessex Award', a new prize recognising efforts to promote diversity in production and make the sector more inclusive.

Sport is another of the Duke's keen interests, and much of his work is dedicated to supporting a number of official sporting organisations. He is Patron of the British Paralympic Association, GB Snowsport, Badminton Scotland, The Tennis & Rackets Association, and President of the Sport & Recreation Alliance. He is also Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, having attended every Commonwealth Games since Edinburgh hosted the event in 1986.

The Duke of Edinburgh is proud to support the work of the Armed Forces both in the UK and overseas. He holds a total of eight military appointments and meets service personnel and their families whenever possible. He is Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards, and in 2006, he was appointed Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Waddington. The Duke also holds three military positions in Canada, including Colonel-in-Chief of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.

The Duke's military career

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on 10 June 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu. He joined the Royal Navy in 1939 at the age of 18 and served with distinction in the British Mediterranean and Pacific fleets during World War II. He was appointed as a midshipman in January 1940 and was involved in the Battle of Crete, for which he was mentioned in dispatches. He was also awarded the Greek War Cross.

Philip continued to serve in the British forces, and in June 1942, he was appointed to the destroyer HMS Wallace, which was involved in convoy escort tasks on the east coast of Britain and the Allied invasion of Sicily. He was promoted to lieutenant in July 1942 and, at the age of 21, became the first lieutenant of HMS Wallace. During the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, as second-in-command of Wallace, he saved his ship from a night bomber attack by devising a plan to launch a raft with smoke floats to distract the bombers.

In 1944, Philip moved to the new destroyer HMS Whelp, where he served with the British Pacific Fleet in the 27th Destroyer Flotilla. He was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed. After the war, he returned to the United Kingdom and was posted as an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur, the Petty Officers' School in Corsham, Wiltshire.

Philip left active military service when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, having reached the rank of commander. However, he continued to hold honorary military appointments and support the Armed Forces throughout his life. He held a total of eight military appointments and met with service personnel and their families whenever possible.

Some of his notable military appointments include:

• Royal Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The London Guards
• Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (appointed in 2006)
• Honorary Air Commodore of Royal Air Force Waddington (appointed in 2008)
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, the Prince Edward Island Regiment, and the Saskatchewan Dragoons (three military positions in Canada)

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