The life of Prince Phillip: Eight of his most surprising achievements

Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace on Friday 9 April.

Here are eight of his most surprising achievements over his 99 years of life. 

1. HE HAD A PILOT’S LICENCE

Prince Phillip learnt to fly in 1952 and  in 1956 he then received his helicopter wings with the navy. Later, In 1959 he got his Private Pilot’s licence. 

He was the first member of the British royal family to fly in and out of Buckingham Palace Garden in a helicopter. Before giving up flying in 1997, he accumulated 5 986 hours as a pilot in 59 types of aircraft in 44 years. 

2. HE WAS THE LONGEST-SERVING CONSORT EVER

Prince Phillip was the oldest male royal in British history. As Queen Elizabeth’s royal consort, he completed 22 219 solo engagements between 1952 and 2017, when he retired from public duty. 

3. HE HAS WRITTEN 14 BOOKS

According to Huff Post, Prince Phillip is the author of 14 books, including titles such as Competition Carriage Driving and Men, Machines and Sacred Cows, a collection of essays, lectures and speeches by Prince Phillip focusing on science, technology and design.

4. HE IS WORSHIPPED AS A GOD 

Prince Phillip is worshipped as a God by Islanders on Tanna, which is one of the islands in Vanuatu in the South West Pacific. The “Prince Philip Movement” believes that he is the son of their ancestral god that lives up in the mountains.

5. FIRST ROYAL TO BE INTERVIEWED ON TELEVISION

The Duke of Edinburgh was the first member of the royal family to be interviewed on television back in 1961. He appeared on Panorama, a British current affairs show to talk about his involvement with Commonwealth Technical Training Week.

He was also instrumental in arranging for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to be broadcasted live.

6. HE SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO

The prince was on the HMS Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet, as well as involved in the 1941 battle of Matapan in Greek waters against the Italian fleet.

He was also given special mention for his operation of search flights during action by his commander-in-chief. 

7. HE WAS A KNIGHT FOR THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Prince Phillip was awarded Australia’s highest honour, a Knight for the Order of Australia by Prime Minister Tony Abbott back in 2015 for his life of service during the Queen’s reign.

8. HE CO-FOUNDED THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

In 1960, Prince Phillip initiated the “Countryside in 1970” conferences that resulted in him becoming the first president of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). He held the role from 1961 to 1982 when he became President Emeritus.

ALSO READ: Prince Philip: Celebrating the longest-serving royal consort in British history [photos]