HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - In Memoriam
In Memoriam
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
10 June 1921 – 09 April 2021
As the official public record of the United Kingdom, The Gazette has recorded important information about the royal family of the United Kingdom, including births, deaths and marriages, for over 350 years. Following the passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, we celebrate the significant moments in his life, as recorded in supplements of The Gazette.
The official public record of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh
Special London Gazette Supplement
Friday, April 9th 2021
Special Edinburgh Gazette Supplement
Friday, April 9th 2021
Special Belfast Gazette Supplement
Friday, April 9th 2021
Timeline of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s life and reign in The Gazette
Commissioning as Sub-Lieutenant – 1 February 1941, Issue 35455
His Royal Highness Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant after a series of courses at Portsmouth, where he gained the top grade in four out of five sections of the qualifying exam.
The Battle of Cape Matapan – 3 February 1942, Issue 35443
In February 1942, Prince Philip was mentioned in despatches as a midshipman in HMS Valiant at the Battle of Cape Matapan.
Promotion to Lieutenant – 16 July 1942, Issue 35664
His Royal Highness was promoted from Sub-Lieutenant to Lieutenant in 1942.
Oath of Allegiance to Great Britain – 28 February 1947, Issue 37908
Philip Mountbatten of Greece took the oath of allegiance as a British citizen in February 1947 and was granted Certificates of Naturalization by the Secretary of State.
Consent from George VI to marry Princess Elizabeth – 31 July 1947, Issue 38030
On 31 July in 1947, George VI ‘was this day pleased, in pursuance of the Royal Marriages Act, 1772, to declare His Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between His Most Dearly Beloved Daughter The Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, R.N., son of His late Royal Highness Prince Andrew of Greece, G.C.V.O., and of Her Royal Highness Princess Andrew, R.R.C.’
Declaration of the style of His Royal Highness – 20 November 1947, Issue 38128
On the morning of his wedding to Princess Elizabeth, Prince Philip was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich, of Greenwich in the County of London and was granted the style His Royal Highness.
Appointment as a personal Aide-de-Camp to George VI – 10 June 1948, Issue 38316
In June 1948, the Duke of Edinburgh became a personal Aide-de-Camp to King George VI.
Charles, Prince of Wales, was born at Buckingham Palace “at fourteen minutes after nine o’clock” on 14 November 1948. Following the death of his grandfather in 1952, he would become heir apparent to the British throne.
Promotion to Lieutenant Commander – 16 July 1950, Issue 38994
In July 1950, the Duke of Edinburgh was promoted from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander and given command of the frigate HMS Magpie.
Birth of Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise – 15 August 1950, Issue 38995
The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen’s second child and only daughter, Princess Anne was delivered “at 11.50 o’clock” at Clarence House on 15 August 1950.
Declaration of Windsor as the family name – 9 April 1952, Issue 39513
The Queen declared that “She and Her children shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor”, with no reference to Mountbatten.
Promotion to Royal Navy Commander – 30 June 1952, Issue 39597
The Duke of Edinburgh was promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander in the Royal Navy in June 1952.
Declaration of Philip’s ‘Place, Pre-eminence and Precedence’ – 26 September 1952, Issue 39657
Dated 18 September, the Queen declared that the Duke of Edinburgh would “have, hold and enjoy Place, Pre-eminence and Precedence next to Her Majesty.”
Appointment as Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps – 24 December 1952, Issue 39754
On Christmas Eve in 1952, the Queen graciously approved the appointment of the Duke of Edinburgh as Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, a role he would hold until 1992.
Appointment as Field Marshal and Colonel-in-Chief – 15 January 1953, Issue 39752
In January 1953, The Queen appointed the Duke of Edinburgh as Field Marshal and Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Cadet Force.
Appointment as Marshal and Air Commodore-in-Chief – 15 January 1953, Issue 39753
The Queen appointed the Duke of Edinburgh as Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Air Training Corps on 15 January 1953.
Promotion to Admiral of the Fleet – 15 January 1953, Issue 39754
On 15 January 1953, the Queen approved the promotion of the Duke of Edinburgh to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet.
Prince Philip began his long association with the Order of the British Empire in May 1953, when he succeeded Queen Mary as Grand Master and First or Principal Knight Grand Cross.
Appointment as Captain General – 1 June 1953, Issue 39863
On 1 June 1953, the Queen appointed the Duke of Edinburgh as Captain General of the Royal Marines.
The Queen granted her husband the style and title of a Prince of the United Kingdom by Letters Patent, and it was gazetted that he was to be known as "His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh."
Declaration of Mountbatten-Windsor surname for descendants – 8 February 1960, Issue 41948
After “further consideration”, the Queen declared that her and Prince Philip’s descendants, “other than female descendants who marry and their descendant”, who would not enjoy “neither the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness” or “Prince” would bear the name Mountbatten-Windsor.
Birth of Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward – 19 February 1960, Issue 41961
The Queen and Prince Philip’s third child, Prince Andrew was delivered at Buckingham Palace on 19 February 1960 “at thirty minutes after three o'clock”.
Birth of Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis – 10 March 1964, Issue 43268
On 10 March 1964, Prince Edward was born “at twenty minutes after eight o’clock” at Buckingham Palace. He was the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen’s fourth child.
Appointment to the Order of Merit – 10 June 1968, Issue 44611
Founded by King Edward VII, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip was appointed to the Order of Merit in 1968.
Commemorative Silver Wedding Anniversary coinage – 27 October 1972, Issue 45812
The London Gazette announced the issuing of coins to mark Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip’s Silver Wedding Anniversary.
Birth of Peter Phillips, the Duke of Edinburgh’s first grandchild – 16 November 1977, Issue 47380
On 16 November 1977, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips’ first child was safely delivered at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London “at 10.46 o'clock” in the morning. Peter Phillips was the Duke of Edinburgh’s first grandchild.
Birth of Prince William Arthur Philip Louis – 21 June 1982, Issue 49027
The first child of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, then Princess of Wales was born on 21 June 1982 “at 9.03 o’clock” in the evening at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. Prince William was born second in the line to succeed his grandmother, Elizabeth II.
Birth of Prince Henry Charles Albert David – 15 September 1984, Issue 49869
Prince Charles’ second son and Prince Philip’s fourth grandchild, Prince ‘Harry’ was delivered in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London on 15 September 1984 “at 4.20 o'clock” in the afternoon.
Birth of Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary – 8 August 1988, Issue 51436
On 8 August 1988, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the Duke and Duchess of York’s first child was delivered. Princess Beatrice was born “at 8.18 o'clock” in the evening at the Portland Hospital, London.
Birth of Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena – 23 March 1990, Issue 52087
The Duke and Duchess of York’s second child was delivered “at 7.58 o'clock” in the evening on 23 March 1990 at the Portland Hospital, London. Princess Eugenie was the Duke of Edinburgh’s sixth grandchild.
Birth of Prince George Alexander Louis – 22 July 2013, Issue 60576
The first son of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was born on 22 July 2013 “at 4:24 o’clock” at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London. Prince George became Prince Philip and the Queen’s third great-grandchild and third in line of succession to the British throne. The event was “commemorated by the firing of the Park and Tower Guns.”
Birth of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana – 2 May 2015, Issue 61216
The second child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was delivered “at 08.34” in the morning on 2 May 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London. Princess Charlotte was born fourth in line of succession to the throne.
Proclamation of new coinage to celebrate Prince Philip’s public service – 24 July 2017, Issue 62002
A proclamation provided for the Royal Mint to strike a coin to celebrate Prince Philip’s long period of public service, showing Prince Philip’s youthful portrait by the designer Humphrey Paget with the inscription “NON SIBI SED PATRIAE”, meaning “not for self, but for country”.
Birth of Prince Louis Arthur Charles – 23 April 2018, Issue 62265
Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their third child on 23 April 2018 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London “at 11.01am”. Prince Louis was born fifth in line of succession to the British throne.
Birth of Archie Mountbatten-Windsor – 6 May 2019, Issue 62640
On 6 May 2019, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s first child was delivered. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor was born “at 05.26” in the morning, he was Prince Philip’s eighth great-grandchild.