OP-ED: A life devoted to his queen and country

He has left behind a glowing legacy
Glowing and very touching tributes have been pouring in from around the world to Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, following his passing away peacefully on Friday morning at Windsor Castle, just two months before his birth centenary.

By any account, his was an extraordinary life. For seven decades, he remained constantly by the side of the sovereign, and his continuous presence served as a stark reminder of how the British monarchy endured years of political upheaval and far-reaching changes in many spheres of life in the United Kingdom, a country which he came to know as his own from a very early age. 

But, to adapt to this new role for the rest of his life and be the royal consort (he was the longest serving royal consort in the UK), Prince Philip had to sacrifice a glittering career in the Royal Navy; however, from his career in the Navy to his charity work and efforts to modernize the monarchy, the Duke of Edinburgh has left behind his own, very personal legacy.

Despite being born in a royal family, he had a turbulent childhood. Born in Corfu, he was the fifth child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and his wife Alice, who was the sister of Lord “Dickie” Mountbatten. He was only 18 months old when his father was made the scapegoat for Greece’s disastrous defeats in Turkey and was only saved from the firing squad by King George V; the family was rescued and spirited away in a British warship.