The Real Prince Philip vs. Philip of The Crown

The Crown is a popular television drama about the British royal family.

One of the most important characters is Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband. Several shows shine a light on Prince Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh. They examine his life and his feelings about being a consort¹ of the royal family. A consort is the marriage partner of a member of a royal family.

Matt Smith played a young Prince Philip in the first two seasons and Tobias Menzies played a middle-aged² Philip in seasons three and four.

The real Prince Philip died Friday at age 99.

The Philip in the TV show is seen being a cold father to his son Prince Charles. The show also suggests Philip was unfaithful to his wife. But he is shown as a positive influence on Elizabeth, and a man who loves his country.

Peter Morgan is the creator of the Netflix show. He said the show is based on historical research and imagination. The truth of Philip's life in the royal family may never be fully³ known. But here are a few true things to compare to the show:

Family trouble

The Crown: Philip wants his children to take his last name, Mountbatten, and not the Queen's, Windsor. The answer is no.

When Elizabeth becomes Queen, Philip leaves the military. He and Elizabeth fight over his role in the royal family. He hates that he must kneel to his wife during the Queen's coronation.

Philip later accepts his role as consort, and the two find a balance in their family and marriage.

Real life: When Philip was not allowed to change the family name, he complained. In Gyles Bradreth's book, Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage, he was angry that he could not give the children his family name.

"I am nothing but a bloody⁴ amoeba," he said.

Eight years later, it was decided⁵ that his children and grandchildren would use both names. For example, Prince Harry⁶ and Meghan Markle's son is named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Man of ddventure:

The Crown: In one episode, Philip is interested in the first moon landing. He watches the astronauts with great respect and thinks his life is boring by comparison. He meets the three American astronauts and tells them that his position and marriage kept him from the life he wanted.

Real Life: Philip lived a life of adventure. He fought in World War II, received medals and became a first lieutenant⁷ in the Royal Navy.

He learned to fly in the 1950s. He was a polo player, painter, art collector and skilled sailor. He drove until the age of 97, when he crashed his car.

On Princess Diana

The Crown: When Diana and Philip first meet at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, they become friends. After a day of hunting and talking, Philip supports her marriage to Charles.

The marriage begins to fail. Diana tells Philip she is thinking of leaving the royal family. She says the family does not care about her. Philip tells her everyone in the family is an outsider except the Queen.

Real Life: In letters between Diana and Philip, he was supportive of Diana. He was also critical of his son's involvement with now-wife Camilla.

Then Diana gave a very truthful⁸ TV interview that Philip did not like. He wrote that she must "fit in" or leave the family.

Words in This Story

unfaithful- adj. - having a sexual relationship with someone who is not your wife, husband, or partner

kneel - v. to be in a position in which one or both of your knees are on the floor

coronation- n. a ceremony in which a crown is placed on the head of a new king or queen

amoeba- n. a tiny living thing that consists of a single cell

outsider- n. - a person who does not belong to or is not accepted as part of a particular group or organization

1 consort   

v.相伴；结交

参考例句：

• They went in consort two or three together.他们三三两两结伴前往。
• The nurses are instructed not to consort with their patients.护士得到指示不得与病人交往。

2 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

7 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

8 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。