Prince Philip's private life and relationship with Queen Elizabeth II explored in new accounts

New biographical accounts and memoirs are providing deeper insight into the private life of the late Prince Philip and his relationship with Queen Elizabeth II.

In the French book ‘Philip, le dernier prince’, author Stéphanie des Horts examines the Duke of Edinburgh’s early life, characterized by exile and instability. Born in Corfu in 1921, Philip fled Greece as an infant following the collapse of the monarchy. Des Horts describes a childhood marked by the loss of his country, religion, and name, noting the profound impact of his mother’s institutionalization and his father’s absence.

Additionally, Charles Spencer, brother of Princess Diana, recounts a specific instance of tension in his book ‘Swan Song. Diana, meine Schwester’. Spencer describes witnessing a moment in 1977 where Prince Philip spoke sharply to the Queen during a parliamentary opening. Spencer notes that while the Queen was a respected and flawless representative of the monarchy, Philip was often a more controversial figure due to his blunt and sometimes brusque remarks.