File photo of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II
News Time
There are already about 25 speeches addressed to Queen Elizabeth II, including a mourning title for Windsor’s widow. The title was last used for Queen Victoria when her husband, Prince Albert, died in December 1861. Like Prince Philip, Albert died at Windsor Castle. Unlike Prince Philip, however, Albert took the title of Prince Consort as the Queen’s husband. Prince Albert (a modest German prince) wanted some equality with his young wife, the Queen, but the situation was different in the case of Prince Philip, who married Queen Elizabeth when she was not the Queen. Then, at the Queen’s coronation in 1953, Prince Philip took an oath of allegiance to the Queen’s Liegeman of life and limb, and then fulfilled that oath. As the Queen’s companion, Philip always considered it his first duty to accompany the Queen. Prince Philip’s father’s family was from Greece and Denmark, while his mother’s family was from Germany and Britain. He had three teachers, the first being Dr. Han, who oversaw Gardenston. It was the school where the children of the rich were sent to free their sense of privilege. His other teacher was his uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who taught him the basics of the kingdom. Prince Philip’s third teacher was the Queen, who had 73 years of experience in power and trust.
During this time Prince Philip was also prominent in public service. He sponsored 780 institutions, gave more than 5,000 speeches and unveiled numerous plaques. He used to say that he has the most experience in unveiling plaques in the world. He has had more than 22,200 individual meetings at home and abroad, in addition to meetings with the Queen. He agreed to visit the Soviet Union, although he said that these bastards had killed half of my family, so he preferred government duties to personal feelings. The two projects he started enabled him to use his popularity outside the royal family. The projects are the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), launched in 1956. It may be recalled that the prince was also the president of the WWF from 1981 to 1996. Even our governments do not have a clear idea of the impact these two projects have had on Pakistan.
Very few people in Pakistan will know that Syed Babar Ali became the President of WWF International after Prince Philip. He has hosted Prince Philip on several occasions. For example, they took him to Hunza in 1994 and Chitral in 1997. Only people close to him can tell that Prince Philip was skipping breakfast at the palace of the Mir of Hunza because he had noticed poor hygiene in the kitchen. Similarly, in a fundraising auction for the WWF in Lahore, the prince suggested that a bid be obtained from the buyer before the successful buyer changed his mind. He subtly acknowledged the shameful remnants of the colonial era in the royal treasury. On one occasion, while showing Tipu Sultan’s dress kept in 100 cash at Windsor Palace, he admitted to his guest that these historical relics were not given to him but were obtained as a symbol of victory.
Prince Philip was fond of reading, which is why he wanted to finish Robertson’s book The Relief of Chitral (1898) before the ship landed. He also remembered these lines of Edward Lear and he used to repeat to them who are the Akhund of Swat, why, what and what? Writings about the deceased mention her minor flaws, but she does not present a complete picture of a person whose language was faster than the formal protocol around her, who came to visit her. He met millions of people in a friendly manner and made the royal routine easy and interesting. Over time, historians will appreciate Prince Philip’s efforts in the modern-day modern monarchy. The British spent a century acknowledging Prince Consort Albert’s foresight and efforts, but Prince Philip’s personality demands that his efforts be recognized soon.
Prince Philip has left behind a widow at Windsor Castle who will not mourn him in the same way that Queen Victoria mourned her irreparable Albert. Forty years later, Queen Victoria continued to wear mourning clothes until her death. She would take off Albert’s clothes every day as if to get up again. Queen Victoria also demanded that all the men in her offspring be given Albert with their other names; even the offspring of their spiritual children were not immune from this command. Maharaja Dilip Singh, who lived in his service, also named his two sons Victor Albert and Albert Edward. Queen Elizabeth II will not stay behind the walls of Windsor to pay homage to her husband (whether Corona remains or not) but will continue to perform her duties with the same body, dignity and honesty as her husband. She never wanted a kingdom, but once she was given the kingdom and took the oath of allegiance to the Gospel at her coronation in 1953, she admitted that, like her husband, she duties of will continue throughout life.
