Last week, Prince Philip, the Queen's husband and consort, announced that he was giving up his schedule of royal duties. After all, he is 95 years old so I don't think that anyone could possibly begrudge him stepping back from the limelight.
Here in England, he is as familiar to the populace as the rising sun. Nearly all of us have "known" him all our lives.
Through the decades, he has variously attracted respect, ridicule, affection and laughter. He is famous for his gaffes. Many of them have been picked up accidentally on nearby microphones. The list is long and they point to a man who is to political correctness what hounds are to foxes. As I present a small selection of Prince Philip's most noteworthy gaffes, I must acknowledge that this post was largely inspired by yesterday morning's "Sunday Round-Up" over at "Shooting Parrots". Thank you Ian!
Now, over to his royal highness:-
“You managed not to get eaten then?” To a British student who had trekked in Papua New Guinea, during an official visit in 1998.
“If you travel as much as we do you appreciate the improvements in aircraft design of less noise and more comfort – provided you don't travel in something called economy class, which sounds ghastly.” To the Aircraft Research Association in 2002.
“Do you still throw spears at each other?” Prince Philip shocks Aboriginal leader William Brin at the Aboriginal Cultural Park in Queensland, 2002.
“If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she isn't interested.” Of his daughter, Princess Anne.
“I thought it was against the law these days for a woman to solicit.” Said to a woman solicitor.
“What about Tom Jones? He's made a million and he's a bloody awful singer.” Response to a comment at a small-business lunch about how difficult it is in Britain to get rich.
“The problem with London is the tourists. They cause the congestion. If we could just stop the tourism, we could stop the congestion.” At the opening of City Hall in 2002.
Whether we like it or not poor old Philip hung in there. Here the monarchy is minor but they have visited many time.
ReplyDeleteDid he come round for tea Red?
DeleteMuch has been made of his gaffes but I sometimes wonder if he is really clueless or if he is quietly amusing himself and taking the piss.
ReplyDeleteNot many men, especially of his age, will allow themselves to be eclipsed by a woman so I think he has been underestimated a bit
Often I think he simply has an outrageous sense of humour and enjoys upsetting the apple cart.
DeleteIt's easy for people to say what royalty should or shouldn't do, but it's the last job in the world that I'd want -- your life is not your own from the time you are born until you die. Well, if you marry into the family I guess you have a few years before your public owns you. But still. I don't like to think of the Queen and Prince Philip getting that old. They've been around my whole life.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a shattering day when Elizabeth II dies but I might not be around to see it. She goes on and on. Amazing really.
DeleteI like Phil...I think he's done a wonderful job. I sent off an email this morning to a couple of friends...it lists "90 years of dontopedalogy" - Philip's biggest gaffes...or brutal honesty.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, he's not toed the "politically-correct" line...and good for him!!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/years-of-dontopedalogy-from-prince-philip/news-story/7eeb1fc0e76389671ac31f358bf64dbf
His reply the other day was...when someone commented to him about "his standing down"...."I can't stand up for much longer!" :)
I think he would have made a great stand-up comedian.
DeleteHis gaffes have been his only redeeming feature, other than that he's spent the last 70 years being cosseted and enjoying all the best things in life, mostly at our expense. People always talk as though he's some kind of superman, still doing the odd bit of hand shaking at 95 but overlook what's got him there. Constant best private health care, best food, best drink, never having to worry about jobs around the house or paying bills, always someone to lay out his clothes and dress him, etc, etc, etc. Couldn't we all be amazing at that age with that kind of lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens Derek! You sound like a republican. I didn't realise that they existed down south. Perhaps you should ask your good lady to lay out your clothes and dress you each morning?
DeleteNo, I'm an anti-royalist, anti that family who get just about everything that we would long for ourselves and all for having to shake a few hands and the odd wave. Be serious and think of how much more wonderful your life would be if you had all the things that life and people shower upon them.
DeleteI'd click my fingers and in a minute there'd be a pint of draught Tetley's bitter in my hand. Our current princes never seem to wear crowns but I'd have mine on all the time.
DeleteI think the gaffes, whether clueless or intentional,show a human likeable side to him. Some of the royals come across as unapproachable, stiff and starchy, whereas I think you could have a good old laugh with him. He has done well as Consort to support the Queen all these years and deserves to be put to grass at last.
ReplyDeletePut out to grass? Surely he needs stabling too.
DeleteHe should have been comic. Of course, his lifestyle would have suffered for his art and we cannot have that for a prince...Wishing you a good week, Mr. YP.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wish you a good week too "e". Who knows, you might run into your old mates "d" and "f"!
DeleteOne of my favourites is when he was asked "How was your flight?" when arriving in Canada.
ReplyDelete"Have you ever flown on an aeroplane?" asked DoE.
"Yes, many times," came the answer.
"Well it was just like that."
More subtle than his usual ripostes.
DeleteLOL -- I will miss his irreverent remarks, though something tells me we'll still be hearing from him now and then.
ReplyDeleteYeah - he's still got a bunch of gaffes left in him. I wonder what his dying words will be? Something funny I trust.
DeleteDeliberate or gaffes, I kind of like him. I don't think he suffers fools gladly, even though at times, he appears to be one himself...
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
He should have been retired years ago. It's cruel to keep imbeciles in a gilded cage. He does have an extended family to keep him company.
ReplyDeleteLet out of captivity they wouldn't last five minutes. I suspect they would have to learn to tie a shoe lace.
And yet, Adrian, Philip joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18; and served England throughout the Second World War with the Mediterranean and Pacific fleets.
DeleteLove the sketch at the bottom too.
ReplyDeleteThe cartoonist has achieved a good likeness of The Duke.
DeleteI applaud anybody who is politically incorrect.
ReplyDeleteI do, too, Sue.
DeleteWhat? I thought you were a model of political correctness Lee! Astonishing!
DeleteI loved all those - they made me laugh. It also made me consider that maybe, just maybe, there were times when he said them deliberately....
ReplyDeleteAlphie