Happy Birthday to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh

Today is the official Queen’s Birthday Holiday here in Oz (one reason many Australians are against changing to a Republic is that we would lose an excuse for a long weekend), but as you all know, it isn’t actually her birthday. But it was the birthday of her consort, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday, when he turned a very respectable 90 years of age.

One of the endearing character traits of the Duke is what are often referred to as his trademark “gaffes”. Of course, these are really not so much “gaffes” as the manifestation of a highly insensitive, non-PC, devil-may-care, and “I’m almost the bloody king, after all, you know” sense of humour. Had he been a touch younger and moved in different crowds, he would have made an excellent addition to the Monty Python crowd.

So, in celebration of his 90th Birthday, the Independent decided to publish 90 of the Duke’s “gaffes” for our enjoyment. Some have been questioned for historical veracity. Just about all of them can be questioned for appropriateness in the given situation. But there is no doubting it: The Duke of Edinburgh is a funny guy!

About Schütz

I am a PhD candidate & sessional academic at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, Australia. After almost 10 years in ministry as a Lutheran pastor, I was received into the Catholic Church in 2003. I worked for the Archdiocese of Melbourne for 18 years in Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations. I have been editor of Gesher for the Council of Christians & Jews and am guest editor of the historical journal “Footprints”. I have a passion for pilgrimage and pioneered the MacKillop Woods Way.
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6 Responses to Happy Birthday to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh

  1. Matthias says:

    Yes Old Phil the Greek,was apparently a big hit with the ladies here in Melbourne,when he was in Australia with the British fleet during WW2.
    I think one of his relatives is a saint in the Orthodox church- Grand Duchess Elizabeth,who was murdered by the Bolsheviks.

    • Schütz says:

      22. “I would like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family.” In 1967, asked if he would like to visit the Soviet Union.

  2. Thanks for this lead David. As a closet republican who dreads the loss of pomp and circumstance I found my self guffawing as the DoE would expect of me. Perhaps he is the last of the court jesters and as such has served Her Majesty’s government well. You are spot on with the observation about his inclusion in a Monty Python skit.
    Happy Pentecost, may the Spirit of Incorrectness confound us all our days!!
    Tony

  3. Peter says:

    Phil the Greek.What an absolute legend!

  4. Matthias says:

    My Mum recalled that when PHIL was out here on a visit on his own ,he went to Melbourne University and the students greeted him with a red carpet- old,mouldy and holey,and he laughed his head off. Perhaps a anarchic syndicalist greeting -to quote from Python’s HOLY GRAIL. For those days policially incorrect but for the right reasons.

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