Why Was Prince Philip Never King?
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away on Friday, April 9. The Palace confirmed his passing in an official statement this morning, writing, "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh." As husband to Queen Elizabeth, the longest-serving monarch in British history, Prince Philip has served by the Queen's side since her coronation in 1953. Despite being married to a Queen, Prince Philip never received the title of "King," thanks to a long-standing Royal tradition.
When did Prince Philip marry Queen Elizabeth?
Prince Philip married Elizabeth in 1947—years before she was crowned Queen. When he married into the family, he relinquished his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark, and was bestowed the titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich.
Doesn't that automatically make him King Philip?
No. When Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, passed away in 1952, she was next in line to the throne, but the Duke of Edinburgh wouldn't automatically be crowned king. In royal history, spouses of queens are referred to as prince consorts because the title of "King" is typically passed onto those who inherit the throne, not those who are married into the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth did make her husband the official prince of Britain in 1957. The queen said in a statement at the time:
The Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm bearing date 22nd February, 1957, to give and grant unto His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., K.T., G.B.E., the style and titular dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Whitehall.
However, Town & Country points out that the same rule doesn't apply to women married to a monarch, since they are usually given the title of "Queen." Queen Elizabeth's mother was crowned Queen, and Kate Middleton—who married Prince William in 2011—will likely become Queen Catherine when Prince William takes the throne.
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