Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth’s husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, has died, just weeks before his 100th birthday.
The 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh [[ ED-in-burra ]] was the longest-serving spouse of a reigning British monarch. He was hospitalized in February for what Buckingham Palace described as “a precautionary measure because he was feeling unwell.” He returned to the palace in March.
Philip married then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the same year he became a naturalized British citizen. He was born into Greek and Danish royalty, but his family was exiled from Greece when he was a baby. He joined Britain’s Royal Navy in 1939, the year he began corresponding with young Princess Elizabeth and became Prince Consort when Elizabeth became Queen in 1952.
Philip was credited with bringing technology to the royal family by having the Queen televise her speeches and even their wedding. He was the first member of the royal family to give a TV interview.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have four children; Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Source: BBC
