The Duke: 100 Chapters in the Life of Prince Philip

by Ian Lloyd

Overview

'A fascinating account of Prince Philip as seen from every conceivable angle. Ian Lloyd demonstrates that there is much we didn't know about this much-loved – and at times controversial – royal consort' Majesty magazine

The Archbishop of Canterbury called him ‘bloody rude’, courtiers feared he was ‘a foreign interloper out for the goodies’, daughter-in-law Sarah Ferguson found him ‘very frightening’ and the Queen Mother labelled him ‘the Hun’. 

Journalists have continually portrayed him as a gaffe-prone serial philanderer, with European outlets going way off-piste and claiming he has fathered 24 illegitimate children and even had a fling with a former French president. Prince Philip says ‘the impression the public has got is unfair’, though he doesn't go to great lengths to defend himself. There is no self-serving autobiography and his interviews with broadcasters or writers are done grudgingly. 

The Duke sets out to explore the man behind the various myths, drawing on interviews with relations, friends and courtiers, as well as Prince Philip's own words. Ian Lloyd brings to life some rare aspects of his character, from a love of poetry and religion to his fondness for Duke Ellington and his fascination with UFOs. Lloyd also explains why for over seven decades the Duke of Edinburgh has been the Queen's ‘strength and stay’ – and why he is regarded by many as a national treasure.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780750996082
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	10/01/2021
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

IAN LLOYD is a full-time writer and former photographer, specialising in the British royal family. Two of his books were Sunday Times bestsellers, and his writing has appeared in the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Hello! and Majesty magazine. He is a frequent after-dinner speaker and a regular pundit on Sky News, BBC News and BBC Radio 5 Live. He lives in Oxford.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

1 Born with Two Birthdays 11

2 'My Place of Rest' 11

3 Keeping It in the Family: How Prince Philip and the Queen Are Related 13

4 A Slice of Battenberg 14

5 Phil the Greek 17

6 Paris and a Bohemian Aunt 20

7 Baby Steps in Britain 23

8 Family Tragedy No. 1: Philip's Mother is Forcibly Removed 25

9 First Meeting 28

10 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 1-10 29

11 No Fixed Abode 31

12 Not a Hard Act to Follow: Philip and the Stage 34

13 Family Tragedy No. 2: The Death of a Beloved Sister 37

14 The Nazi Link 39

15 Girls, Girls, Girls 44

16 First Love 46

17 A Practical Joker 49

18 Breaking and Entering 52

19 It's Not for Me, It's for a Friend 53

20 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 11-20 56

21 Two Degrees of Separation: Philip and the Duke of Wellington 57

22 For Queen and Country: The Duke's Medals 59

23 Naval Hero 62

24 1945: The Final Surrender 65

25 The Moment They Clicked 68

26 Pathway to Love 71

27 The Mystery of Their Engagement 75

28 Philip Flunks an Exam 77

29 An Unwelcome Welcome 78

30 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 21-30 83

31 Philip the Jewellery Designer 84

32 An End to His Vices 87

33 Phil the Dish 88

34 Pre-Wedding Jitters? 92

35 Philip's Austerity Wedding 94

36 Wedding Presents 98

37 Honeymoon Hysteria 100

38 Philip and a Royal Mistress 102

39 A Working Royal 104

40 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 31-40 105

41 Philip and Charles: Good Cop or Bad Cop? 107

42 Ol' Blue Eyes 112

43 Two Dukes and the King of Jazz 114

44 The Thursday Club 118

45 First Home 121

46 Princess Anne: The Son He Never Had 122

47 'The Whole World Had Dropped on His Shoulders' 126

48 'That Damned Fool Edinburgh' 132

49 And to Crown It All … 134

50 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 41-50 139

51 Don't Call Me Albert! 140

52 Mother-in-Law Trouble 144

53 What Have You Come As? 149

54 Edinburgh Green 151

55 The Rumours 153

56 Tours de Force 163

57 The Day the Queen Sported a Beard 169

58 When is a Prince Not a Prince? 170

59 Special Brew 172

60 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 51-60 174

61 The Dukebox 176

62 The Queen Raises Philip's Six-Bar Limit 177

63 The D of E Awards 179

64 Sartorial Star 181

65 Royal Variety: Not Always the Spice of Life 187

66 Man of Faith 192

67 On the Police Database 195

68 A Very Mixed Media 196

69 Dodgy Palace Lifts 200

70 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 61-70 202

71 Poesy Prince 203

72 … Talking of Poetry 205

73 Man Belonging Mrs Queen 207

74 Feature Film Philip 208

75 The Prince and the Profumo Scandal 212

76 1969: The Year the Queen Banned Christmas 218

77 Crash, Bang, Wallop: The Duke Behind the Wheel 226

78 A Fatherly Bond with JFK Jnr 232

79 Take the ****ing Picture: The Potty-Mouthed Prince 236

80 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 71-80 238

81 Royal Winker 239

82 Turning the Queen Decimal 241

83 A Sensitive Touch 242

84 Diana: A Complicated Daughter-in-Law 247

85 Frozen-Out Fergie 252

86 Biblio-Phil 255

87 North of Watford Gap 257

88 Prince Philip: The Godfather 258

89 Philip the Good Father 264

90 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Duke's Memorable Clangers 81-90 264

91 Charity Case 266

92 The Death of Diana 270

93 Is There Anyone There? Part 1 275

94 Is There Anyone There? Part 2 277

95 Cartoon Character 279

96 Cry Freedom 280

97 Fun Phil Facts 281

98 My Husband and I 285

99 Quips, Gaffes and Banter: The Dukes Memorable Clangers 91-100 295

100 The End of an Era 296

Notes 309

Bibliography 323

Index 327

Editorial Reviews

"Meet the man behind the crown with this biography." —Stylecaster, "The Best Books About Prince Philip to Remember His 99 Years of Life & Legacy"
 

"A fascinating account of Prince Philip as seen from every conceivable angle. Ian Lloyd demonstrates that there is much we didn't know about this much-loved – and at times controversial – royal consort." —Majesty magazine

"The Duke sets out to explore the man behind the various myths, drawing on interviews with relations, friends and courtiers and the Duke’s own words. It brings to life some rare aspects of his character, from a love of poetry and religion to his fondness for Duke Ellington and his fascination with UFOs. It also explains why for over seven decades he has been the Queen’s ‘strength and stay’ – and why he is regarded by many as a national treasure. . . . He is an impressive figure, and Lloyd does him justice." —An Historian About Town

From the Publisher