Many, many people (myself included) are fascinated with royalty. We devour documentaries and biographies like they are going out of style. There are some royals that we know (comparatively) a lot about, and some a little. Prince Philip has always been one of those figures that has many quips shared, but not much more. When I saw that a new Prince Philip biography was being published- I got excited. This is a spotlight/highlight type of biography, and it works perfectly for Philip’s life. Today’s Book Bite is The Duke by Ian Lloyd, a fantastic new royal biography.
The Duke: 100 Chapters in the Life of Prince Philip, Ian Lloyd
The Archbishop of Canterbury called him ‘bloody rude’, courtiers feared he was ‘a foreign interloper out for the goodies’, daughter-in-law Sarah Ferguson found him ‘very frightening’ and the Queen Mother labelled him ‘the Hun’. Journalists have continually portrayed him as a gaffe-prone serial philanderer, with European outlets going way off-piste and claiming he has fathered 24 illegitimate children. Prince Philip says ‘the impression the public has got is unfair’, though there is no self-serving autobiography and his interviews with broadcasters or writers are done grudgingly. The Duke sets out to explore the man behind the various myths, drawing on interviews with relations, friends and courtiers and the Duke’s own words. It brings to life some rare aspects of his character, from a love of poetry and religion to his fondness for Duke Ellington and his fascination with UFOs. It also explains why for over seven decades he has been the Queen’s ‘strength and stay’ – and why he is regarded by many as a national treasure.
Why You Should Read This…
Although this book’s publishing date was set months and months ago, it seems fortuitous timing with the Duke of Edinburgh going into the hospital on the same day. (As of Tuesday, 23 February, he is still stable and in the hospital.) While I am hoping that we are quite a ways away from a funeral announcement, it is the perfect time to delve into his life. As I said above, this is a highlight style biography, and for a man that has lived a century, it is a useful format. I felt like I learned a lot without getting bogged down in the weeds. It was presented in mostly chronological order, but not entirely.
Before you ask: it does include many of his in/famous quotes or “gaffes” throughout the book, which I think people will look for. A lot of biographeres tend to focus on Philip’s younger years- Nazis! Royal orphan! WWII!- but Lloyd goes further. I would have liked slightly more emphasis on his later years, but there is a good range here. There is a real emphasis on his longevity, and just how much service he has given the Queen, the UK, and the Commonwealth. He is an impressive figure, and Lloyd does him justice.
If you watched any season of The Crown and were intrigued by Philip, you need to read The Duke!
Are you planning on reading The Duke by Ian Lloyd?
Cheers,
The Historian
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