Prince Philip at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2011.Photo:Indigo/Getty
Indigo/Getty
Years after his death,Prince Philipis still full of surprises.
Calder captured some of the most iconic formal portraits of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in their later years, from the Queen infull regaliaof the Scottish Order of the Thistle — complete with tiara — near Balmoral Castle in Scotland in 2010 to her Diamond Jubilee portraits with Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace.
The book claim came up when Calder explained that while courtiers never gave him certain rules to follow while photographing the royals, he once asked for an erotic book to be removed from the background as he took the late Duke of Edinburgh’s picture.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Windsor Cup in 2018.Antony Jones/Getty
Antony Jones/Getty
“I once did a portrait of Prince Phillip in his office. And he was standing there, and I was quite young at the time,” Calder told co-hosts Andrea Caamano, Emily Nash and Emmy Griffiths.
“And I’m looking through the lens, I thought, ‘God just behind his right ear is a book —The Joy of Sex.I had to say, ‘Prince Philip, should we move that?’ And he laughed, and he got his equerry to come and move it. I’d have looked stupid!” he added.
Prince Philip uttered someunforgettable gaffesduring his seven decades of service to the crown and was further famed for his quick wit and dry humor. Earlier this summer,Prince Williamsaidone such amusing anecdoteabout his grandfather completely made sense while visiting Northern Ireland.
During a June 27 stop at East Belfast Mission, the Prince of Wales chatted with Rev. Brian Anderson, who shared a funny story about Prince Philip,Hello!reported.
The Reverend recalled how the royal’s grandfather used directness — and some colorful language — to his advantage when persuading politicians and other civil servants to provide funding for the building that Prince William was visiting.
He said that Philip “immediately” asked, “Why don’t you just give them the money?” — but with more obscene language.
“There was an expletive in there, but I’m not going to say that,” the Reverend said, per the outlet. “And three weeks later, the money turned up.”
The Prince of Wales responded, “That sounds like my grandfather.”
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On their golden wedding anniversary in 1997, Queen Elizabeth offered a rare glimpse of her tightly-held heart. “He has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years,” she said. “I owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim.”
In their later years, the royal couple continued their interest in wildlife paintings, which they enjoyed collecting together, horse racing, gardening, their growing family and their beloved dogs.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty
Prince Philip was admittedto King Edward VII Hospital in London on Feb. 16, 2021, after “feeling unwell.” After 28 days,he came home. But on the morning of April 9,he diedat the age of 99.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness ThePrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time.
“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
“Further announcements will be made in due course.
“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
“Ironically, it is probably how he would have liked,” former palace spokeswoman Ailsa Andersontold PEOPLEat the time. “No fuss, no bother. Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about.”
source: people.com
