Royal Biographer Recounts How Prince Philip Was 'Patronized' And Treated Like An 'Outsider' When He Joined The Royal Family
Though the late Prince Philip is now adored by every member of the royal family, that wasn't the case when he and Queen Elizabeth II began dating.
In Ingrid Seward's book, My Husband and I: The Inside Story of the Royal Marriage, she recounts how many of Philip's relatives worried over how he was being treated by her brood — and their claims are eerily similar as to how Meghan Markle was not-so warmly welcomed when she married Prince Harry.
According to Seward's work, many weren't fond of Philip since he was born in Greece, not England. It's also noted that Philip and Elizabeth were said to be distant cousins, which also raised eyebrows.
"Tommy Lascelles (private secretary to the King) was impossible. They were bloody to him. They patronized him," the author wrote. "They treated him as an outsider. It wasn’t much fun."
"He laughed it off, of course, but it must have hurt," Seward added. "I’m not sure Princess Elizabeth noticed it. She probably didn’t see it."
Despite not gaining any fans, Elizabeth still went on to wed Philip in 1947 — but things didn't get any better for her new husband.
"He knew he was going into the lions’ den. He was very conscious of the way he’d been treated and how hard he would have to fight for his position and his independence (against the Establishment). What he didn’t know was just how fearsome it was going to be," Philip’s cousin Lady Pamela Hicks said, per Seward.
The book also notes how Philip was thrust into his royal duties when Elizabeth was crowned Queen at just 25 years old. He was used to being in charge due to his role in the navy, but now, he was ordered to step aside and let his wife be the leader.
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"Philip was constantly being squashed, snubbed, ticked off, rapped over the knuckles. It was intolerable," his former secretary Mike Parker told the Daily Express. "The problem was simply that Philip had energy, ideas, get-up-and-go and that didn’t suit the Establishment, not one bit."
Philip passed away at age 99 on April 9 and will be laid to rest on April 17.