Death of Prince Philip: The Pictures of His Life

Enlarge image

1 / 21st

Prince Philip on a visit to Ground Zero in New York City in 2010. The Queen had just laid flowers for the victims of the attacks.

The relationship with Elizabeth II would determine the life of the man who became the longest serving Prince Consort in British history.

Photo: Lucas Jackson / REUTERS

Enlarge image

2/21

Philip as a nine-year-old in Greek costume.

However, he had already had to leave the country of his birth as a baby.

In 1922 the Greek military staged a coup d'état, the king had to abdicate, and his brother Andreas, Philip's father, was only executed through the intervention of the English king.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

3/21

From then on, the little prince's family lived in Paris, depending on the support of wealthy relatives.

Philip was sent to boarding school at an early age, to England.

The photo shows him as an eight-year-old (second from left) at the MacJannet American School in the Paris suburb of St Cloud.

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge image

4/21

Philip as a teenager in Gordonstoun.

He liked the Spartan lifestyle and the sports-oriented upbringing - his son Charles, whom he later also sent to the Scottish boarding school, suffered torments there.

Photo: Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge image

5/21

In the Second World War, Philip succeeded as a naval officer.

Colleagues predicted a steep career for him.

The picture shows him on a day off, playing sports in a military complex in the southern English county of Wiltshire, 1947.

Photo: Topical Press Agency / Getty Images

Enlarge image

6/21

Nothing came of his military career, Philip became a prince consort.

In 1946 he secretly got engaged to the English heir to the throne Elizabeth, or better: she to him.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

7/21

The 1947 wedding at Westminster Abbey.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

8/21

Elizabeth's tiara shattered just before the wedding ceremony.

A jeweler was on hand to repair the jewelry in no time at all.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

9/21

The couple with the oldest children Charles and Anne.

This photo is symbolic: the relationship between Philip and Anne was always excellent, the one that distanced us from Charles.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

10/21

The family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in 1960. The children Charles (right) and Anne (left) and their little brother Andrew (center).

Photo: AP

11/21

Tiger hunting in India: For Philips' critics, it has always been incompatible that he loved the hunt and was involved in nature conservation.

Photo: Fox Photos / Getty Images

Enlarge image

12/21

He did not kill every animal he saw: Philip feeds penguins in Antarctica in 1957.

Photo: AP

13/21

Philip was an avid sportsman: whether it was bicycle polo ...

Photo: George Freston / Getty Images

Enlarge image

14/21

... or in cricket.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

15/21

Symbol of the cool jet setter: Philip playing polo, a sport that he practiced into old age.

Photo: AFP

Enlarge image

16/21

In this picture from 1949, Philip practices throwing a javelin in front of students in Wales.

Photo: Leslie Priest / AP

Enlarge image

17/21

Another hobby: flying.

Photo: AP

Enlarge image

18/21

Philip with his grandsons William (2nd from left) and Harry (2nd from right), his son Charles (right) and Charles Spencer, Diana's brother, before the Westminster Abbes at Diana's funeral in 1997.

Photo: JEFF J MITCHELL / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Enlarge image

19/21

For decades, the Duke of Edinburgh largely directed the fortunes of the Windsors, both positively and negatively.

Photo: Andrew Winning / REUTERS

Enlarge image

20/21

As one journalist put it: "She has the crown on, but he has the pants on."

Photo: John Stillwell / AP

Enlarge image

21/21

Prince Philip described his job a little differently: "I've tried to keep things going while I can."

Photo: Hannah Mckay / REUTERS