Prince Philip’s life to be celebrated in new exhibitions at Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse – Tatler

George A Weymouths portrait of Prince Philip standing in the shell of St Georges Hall in Windsor Castle after the fire of 1992, holding a roll of floorplans.

Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021 / PA Images

The late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died aged 99 on 9 April, just a few months short of what would have been his 100th birthday this Thursday. To mark the occasion, two exhibitions have been planned at Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse, dubbed Prince Philip: A Celebration.

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Prince Philip's close association to Windsor Castle - where he spent the last months of his life - will be explored as part of the exhibition. His mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was born here in 1885, and amongst the objects on display will be a journal entry by Queen Victoria noting how pretty a baby she was.

There will also be a focus on his work on restoring the castle after the fire of 1992, the Queen's so-called annus horribilis, including George A Weymouth's portrait of the Duke standing amongst the ruins holding floor plans.

The Coronation Robe and Coronet worn by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during Her Majesty The Queens Coronation on 2 June 1953

Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021 / PA Images

Also among the objects at Windsor Castle will be the coronation robes and coronet that he wore for his wife's coronation in 1953. It was of course the occasion that changed the course of the Duke's life forever, as he became the royal consort, and gave up his promising career in the navy. Also on display will be his chair of estate - usually found at Buckingham Palace - which was made after the coronation and features a 'P' on the back for Philip.

Meanwhile in the Scottish capital, where the Prince held his Dukedom, there will be a focus on his naval career. A hero of World War II, Philip's midshipman's logbook describing HMS Valiant's mission during the Battle of Cape Matapan will be on display, recalling: 'Thanks to [Philip's] alertness and appreciation of the situation, we were able to sink in five minutes two 8in gun Italian cruisers.'

A silver model of HMY Britannia produced by Garrard & Co and presented to The Queen and Prince Philip by Lloyds Register of Shipping in 1972

Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021 / PA Images

Following the Queen's coronation and the end of his time in the navy, Philip continued to take a keen interest in the high seas, and was actively involved in the building of the Royal Yacht Britannia, with sketches by architect Sir Hugh Casson alongside the Duke's notes shown.

The order of service from the wedding of HRH The Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten

Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021 / PA Images

It's not all bravura though: there will also be the wedding invitation, order of service and breakfast menu from Philip's 1947 nuptials to the Queen shown here, with the latter featuring the 'filet de sole Mountbatten' and 'bombe glace Princesse Elizabeth'.

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Prince Philip's life to be celebrated in new exhibitions at Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse - Tatler