Prince Philip : The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II

British author Philip Eade has written a good, workman-like biography of Prince Philip, consort to Queen Elizabeth 2 and holder of many other royal titles. The book focuses on Philip's family and early life and ends when Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, following her father's early death the year before.Philip has long been viewed as something of a lone wolf as well as someone not afraid to express his opinions. (See also, "tactless"). He's been by Elizabeth's side since their marriage in 1947 and has long been saddled with an ill-defined role in British public life. Walking a few feet behind his wife in public and always deferring to her has chafed on this man - now in his early 90's - who was on the way to making a successful career in the Royal Navy when he accepted both marriage to the heiress to the throne and then a secondary role to hers after she ascended to the throne.Philip was born a prince to the Greek royal family in 1920. The youngest of five children - and only son - he has no Greek blood. In fact, the Greek royal family was basically Danish-German, as Philip's paternal grandfather, a German prince, had been asked to take the Greek throne in the late 1800's. Philip's family was exiled from Greece when Philip was a few months old and he and his family took to the road. The four daughters married German princes and Philip's parents split up and Philip himself was tossed to the wind. He was raised by a group of royal relatives on both sides but he basically raised himself. He was self-reliant as a child, as well he had to be. But with self-reliance also comes an aloofness, or self-protection, that can be disturbing to others. He was sent to public schools, Cheam, Salem (located in Germany), and finally Gordonstoun, founded by Kurt Hahn who led Salem and had been forced to leave Germany in the 1930's. Philip spent his school holidays flopping on whatever couches in the home of whatever royal relative was putting him up that term. He finally entered the Royal Navy after training at Portsmouth and did solid duty in action in WW2.But his naval duty was superseded post-war by his engagement and marriage to the then-Princess Elizabeth. Five years younger than Philip, they met when Elizabeth was first in her mid-teens and married when she was 21. But Philip had long been known to the British royal family; it merely took Lord Louis Mountbatten - "Dickie" - Philip's uncle to finesse the marriage. (How much "finesse" is still being debated as Dickie Mountbatten was not a general favorite in the royal family nor in the government of the time). Elizabeth and Philip married in 1947 - a true love match, it seems - and produced four children. By the way, the young Philip was drop-dead gorgeous and he's aged very well.Eade has written a non-sensational look at the young Prince Philip. He bats away presumptions of Philip's infidelity, maintaining Philip's general behavior may have given rise to such questions, but they're not true.Part of Eade's book - and one of the best - is the untangling of the royal lines of birth in Philip's (and Elizabeth's) family. Fairly interesting group of ancestors, actually. It's a good read and almost essential for royal "groupies".

Largely abandoned by his mother and father when he was a little boy, Prince Philip survived and thrived due to the fact that he was good-looking, witty, tough and willing to charm even to the point of being ingratiating and servile at times. The resentment he may have felt over the need for this came out in his ill temper, rudeness and tactless gaffs, habits which he retained throughout life.His father was Prince Andrew of Greece married to Princess Alice who was a descendant of Queen Victoria. Life in the palace in Greece was rather rough and basic but apparently pretty happy until the Greek government decided not to have a royal family and almost executed Prince Andrew who was saved through negotiations by a British official.Prince Andrew and Princess Alice then fell apart. Their marriage dissolved and Princess Alice had a breakdown and went into a sanatorium in Europe. Prince Andrew did not pick up the tab and care actively for his children. Instead he drifted vaguely through life, seeing Philip occasionally but largely leaving him in the care of various kind relatives in Britain.Philip regarded himself quite correctly as being of no fixed address. He learnt to please those about him and survived on wit and charm. He also coped with the rugged schooling provided for him by another survivor, his headmaster, who came within a hair’s whisker of being sent to a concentration camp in Germany.Princess Elizabeth was very smitten by Philip in her early teens and remained very in love with him. Would he have married her if not for the energetic machinations of his uncle, Dickie Mountbatton? At times Philip seems to have felt that Mountbatton was the “general manager” of his engagement to Princess Elizabeth.Once married, they appeared to be very fond of each other and at ease with each other, though it must have been stunning for the princess to be told she was a little fool by Philip when he was in a bad mood. She seemed to be very shy and obedient. However once she became Queen, she stepped into a new confidence. Philip was relegated very much to the back stage which placed their marriage under great strain as he had been the man in charge up until that time. He was particularly hurt by the fact that his children would not have his surname but would be named Windsor.However his anger about all this drove him to devote himself to some very worthwhile causes such as promoting British science and technology and encouraging young people to be active and involved in such programs as the Duke of Edinburgh award.It may also have been his anger and his sense of being restricted which drove him to have various affairs but perhaps that was just the sense of licence that royals tend to have or just the fact that his marriage has lasted a long time and he got bored at times.Not surprisingly, after his off-hand treatment by his parents, Prince Philip has been a remote, uncaring and often bullying father for his first son, Prince Charles. Unfortunately Charles’ mother was if anything more remote and uncaring. Hopefully the other children fared better. It is encouraging that Prince William and Kate seem to be continuing the warmth and caring that was started by Princess Diana. Long may it continue!As Philip Eade comments, Prince Philip seems to be a man of endless contradictions. This book presents these contradictions through interesting anecdotes and detail.

Enjoyed this well resesrched and informative book, which deals with HRH Phillip's early life and difficulties, not of his own making, which he suffered and overcame by virtue of strength of character and will. It gave me an appreciation of both him and the queen, which I didn't have before. He was rather a loose cannon ( some say a real jerk ) in his younger days until he manned up and found his way, but you find yourself rooting for this charismatic and astronomically handsome man anyway. Despite his alpha male gaffes and difficulties walking two steps behind in many of his duties, you can see why Elizabeth took one look at him and never looked at anyone else. I was watching The Crown, which is stellar, emotional inducing and so well written, and I could fact check and understand all the players in the series by using this book. Not a hatchet job, but fair and intelligent observations.

An excellent book about a fascinating man. I became interested in Prince Phillip after watching "The Crown" so decided to get this book. Really glad I did. It's a great read

Good price and good delivery

A wonderfully interesting bookI have only read parts of the book so far but what I have read I have enjoyed very much

Unfortunately, I havent time to write just how fantastic I found this book, all I can say is if you are interested in Prince Philip or the Royal family this book will not disappoint you at all.

very good book