Philip makes it into history books
Saturday 18th April 2009, 11:27AM BST.
Today, the Duke of Edinburgh enters the history books with a record unlikely to be beaten, writes Shirley Tart.
After 57 years and 70 days in his role of support to the Queen, he becomes the longest serving consort of any British monarch. Until now Queen Charlotte, wife of King George lll, could claim that particular place in royal annals.
As a young naval officer, Prince Philip of Greece first met the then Princess Elizabeth when, as a starry eyed 13-year-old, she visited Dartmouth Naval College.
Eventually, the couple became friends and were married in November 1947, shortly after the Duke had renounced his Greek title.
In those early days of married life, they enjoyed a spell in naval quarters in Malta but were on a tour of Kenya in 1952, leaving their small son and daughter at home, when King George VI died.
Elizabeth, then 25, immediately became Queen and her husband, her consort.
One of the great success stories of his contribution has been the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and despite some health concerns – he will be 88 in June – he still carries out hundreds of official engagements each year.
As the couple arrived back from Kenya that gloomy February day, they were met by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
If a new era had begun for the nation, so it had for the sailor who abandoned a promising seafaring future to dedicate himself to his wife and her reign.
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