Prince Philip

1921 – 2021

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-serving royal consort in British history, holding the role from her 1952 accession until his death in 2021. He became notorious during state visits for racist and xenophobic remarks, including telling British students in Beijing in 1986 that they would become "slitty-eyed" if they stayed in China too long, asking an Aboriginal Australian leader in 2002 whether his people "still throw spears at each other," and joking to a driving-instructor in Scotland in 1995 about how women keep their husbands "off the booze." He served as a wartime Royal Navy officer before marriage and remained a defender of the monarchy's role in former colonies throughout decolonisation.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM