As such, he was the consort of the British monarch from his wife's accession on 6 February until his death in , making him the longest-serving royal consort in history.
Philip was born in Greece into the Greek and Danish royal families ; his family was exiled from the country when he was eighteen months old. After being educated in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, he joined the Royal Navy in , when he was 18 years old.
In the summer of , the King granted Philip permission to marry Elizabeth, then aged Before the official announcement of their engagement in July , Philip stopped using his Greek and Danish royal titles and styles , became a naturalised British subject , and adopted his maternal grandparents' surname Mountbatten.
Philip left active military service when Elizabeth ascended the throne in , having reached the rank of commander. In , he was created a British prince. A sports enthusiast, Philip helped develop the equestrian event of carriage driving.
He was patron , president, or member of over organisations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature , and served as chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award , a youth awards programme for people aged 14 to He retired from royal duties in , aged 96, having completed 22, solo engagements and 5, speeches since , and died at the age of 99 at Windsor Castle.
