The Duke of Edinburgh, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece was born in Corfu and educated in Britain. His Naval career began in 1939 when he entered the Royal naval College, Dartmouth, as a cadet. In January 1940 he went to sea as a midshipman, joining the battleship “Valiant” with the Mediterranean Fleet. In this ship he took part in the Sicily landings and was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
On the eve of the marriage to Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 he was given the title of the Duke of Edinburgh by King George VI who also authorised his use of the prefix ‘His Royal Highness’. He retired from active service in 1951 and since the accession of Queen Elizabeth II has played an increasingly important part of the nation’s life.
On the 5th March 1959 His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh accepted the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Apart from the above he holds many other service appointments and is particularly interested in scientific and technological research and development, the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people and the conservation of the environment.
