Not for nothing has the Duke of Edinburgh just been named Oldie of the Year, writes Shirley Tart.

He was only a baby when his father was sentenced to death by Greek military usurpers.

Happily, a Royal Navy gunship arrived to save the family and the baby was smuggled out of harm’s way in a fruit box. Destined for the House of Windsor!

Prince Philip of Greece was a fresh-faced young man when he first met the elder daughter of King George Vl.

She never looked at another boy once the handsome, attentive sailor had caught her teenage eye. He also fell hook, line and sinker and in 1947, they married.

Within a few short years, she was Queen, and while Elizabeth ll celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of her reign next year, before then, the baby in the fruit box reaches his 90th birthday.

On June 10, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, lifelong consort will mark the momentous day, now also part of a royal wedding year as grandson William takes a bride of his own.

And while many celebrations are already in place to mark 60 years of this extraordinary reign, before then, a special exhibition at Windsor Castle is being planned to mark the Duke’s own milestone.

Prince Philip: Celebrating Ninety Years will include a selection of photographs and paintings from the thousands available, both of and by Philip, along with some of the souvenirs from round the world which he has collected over all those years.

The Royal Collection which recently staged The Queen’s Year, at Buckingham Palace is gathering the exhibits together.

And they will reflect a long, long lifetime of a man who has lived through a long, long reign and seen it all from a unique perspective – two steps behind the monarch.

Whatever his critics say, his has been a quite extraordinary role. Devoted husband, father, consort.

A man with his own very firm views on life but who stepped away from many of them to support his wife in the service of the nation, what remained of the Empire and the emerging Commonwealth.

Whatever gaffes or public irritations might have made headlines, they have been far outweighed by his contribution, including the fantastic Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

Tongue in cheek, the Duke says he’s too old to go to the Oldie of the Year awards.

But he remains as he has through it all, the Queen’s rock and stay and still undertakes an arduous programme, usually with his wife.

And as his big birthday approaches, it will bring its own quite proper celebration including this new exhibition.

It should also bring a cake not just to mark his 90 years but which says ‘thank you’ to the remarkable man behind the throne.