Queen Elizabeth II has described Prince Philip as her “strength and stay” and their 72-year-marriage is a testament to their enduring love. However, like most marriages, it hasn’t always been easy for the Duke of Edinburgh who had to sacrifice more than just his budding naval career when Elizabeth became Queen. Prince Philip has served at the Queen’s side for decades, retiring from public service at the age of 96 in 2017.

The Duke of Edinburgh is still a doting husband but spends an increasing amount of time at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk where he enjoys his retirement out of the royal spotlight.

Philip, 98, is understood to have joined the Queen in Balmoral for her summer break and the couple will be able to enjoy some rare downtime together.

While it’s hard to imagine a British Royal Family without Prince Philip, there was a time when he was deemed an outsider.

As an exiled Greek prince with German in-laws, Philip was not immediately welcomed by all palace aides and took some time to settle.

Prince Philip was used to naval hierarchy where he was revered as an officer.

However, as the Queen’s husband he had to get used to coming second which didn’t always come easily to the spirited Duke.

The biggest blow Philip faced was when he and the Queen had children.

When Charles was born in 1948 the Second World War was still a fresh memory and there were fears Philip’s German surname, Mountbatten, would sit uncomfortably with Britons.

The Duke was, therefore, stopped from passing on his surname to his progeny, a move that left him emasculated according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward.

In Ms Seward’s book My Husband and I: The Inside Story of 70 Years of the Royal Marriage, she chronicles Philip’s reaction.

The heartbroken Duke was reported to have said: “I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his children.

“I’m nothing but a bloody amoeba.”

Struggling to find his place in the Royal Family, Philip is also recorded as having said: “Constitutionally I do not exist.”

Philip’s close friend Countess Mountbatten recalled: “It hurt him, it really hurt him.

“He had given up everything and now this, the final insult.

“It was a terrible blow. It upset him very deeply and left him feeling unsettled and unhappy for a long while.”

Royal aide Tommy Lascelles was apparently behind the decision that was motivated by Philip’s surname being too German.

Philip had to wait 16 years until finally in 1960 the Privy Council declared the name Mountbatten-Windsor would apply to all male descendants of the Queen’s and Prince Philip’s when a surname was required.

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