Philip: The Final Portrait: Elizabeth, Their Marriage and Their Dynasty

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Philip – elusive, complex, controversial, challenging, often humorous, sometimes irascible – is the man Elizabeth II once described as her ‘constant strength and guide’. Who was he? What was he really like? What is the truth about those ‘gaffes’ and the rumours of affairs? This is the final portrait of an unexpected and often much-misunderstood figure. It is also the portrait of a remarkable marriage that endured for more than seventy years. Fortunately, Gyles Brandreth is a consummate raconteur and has provided a less sensational (because the tabloids have delivered this already), and likely much more accurate portrayal of Prince Philip. I enjoyed listening to this book very much. This was a very well-written book that had the "royal seal of approval", but the author didn't pull any punches when speculating on Philip's supposed affairs. He discussed these rumors in-depth, naming names and scenarios- but ultimately came to the conclusion that they were much ado about nothing. His rational for the aura of sexuality around the very handsome Philip was being the only son amongst several sisters, was celebrated and doted upon. He carried this confidence around women forward into his adult life, and was devastatingly handsome. So many historical figures are prevalent throughout this book, and tie in to what is being discussed in one way or another. You do it like this, with careful research, impeccable sources, love for your job and an enormous (and open eyed) respect for the man you are writting about.

Philip and Elizabeth were both royal by birth, both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria, but, in temperament and upbringing, they were two very different people. The Queen’s childhood was loving and secure, the Duke’s was turbulent; his grandfather assassinated, his father arrested, his family exiled, his parents separated when he was only ten. Elizabeth and Philip met as cousins in the 1930s. They married in 1947, aged twenty-one and twenty-six. The books reads so smoothly and almost flawlessly that it makes you have a hard time putting it down, you are carried away following his life story (and this century's history) in a very engaging and natural way. Philip: The Final Portrait tells the story of two contrasting lives, assesses the Duke of Edinburgh's character and achievement, and explores the nature of his relationships with his wife, his children and their families - and with the press and public and those at court who were suspicious of him in the early days. This is a powerful, revealing and, ultimately, moving account of a long life and a remarkable royal partnership. However, I do feel that while the author is unconsciously aware of the problems with the oppressive quality of monarchy (actual or figure-headed), he ignores or discounts reasonable instances of racist/sexist/ethnocentric comments and behaviour of Prince Philip specifically, and the royal family in general. One suspects the author knows he is doing this because he spends a lot of time trying to convince us of the self-less philosophy of the Duke of Edinburgh: an he-doth-protest-too-much level, frankly. He refers to our "more sensitive age," which is utter tosh. We are not living in a more sensitive age, if one can judge by aristos being offended and shooting at each in duels in bygone ages. We are simply living in an age whereby technology gives the rabble more of a voice. Certainly the actions of Prince Philip's son felt entirely brushed over. I guess, what can one expect, if one is to get a least a tacit royal acceptance of a royal biography. In fact, I felt to a certain extent that coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh's relationship with his children and grandchildren felt sparse, and hurried. While we get a mini-biography of each child, a few comments about their spouses, and the aftermath of the royal divorces, his fatherhood, and even, grandfatherhood seemed glossed over or hurried. We don't get any extended anecdotes with each child, as we do with the royal marriage. I find I have questions. Did Prince Philip attend any royal functions with his children? Were there any instances of holiday anecdotes? We learn more about the games that Queen Elizabeth played with her parents, but we are supposed to believe that there were good times amongst Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their children and grandchildren with next to no detail.A warm, affectionate portrait of the much-missed Duke ... a rich source of insights and anecdotes.' - SAGA MAGAZINE Coronet will publish Philip: The Final PortraitbyGyles Brandreththis month, a fully revised and updated version of an earlier royal biography by theauthor and broadcaster. This is the story of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh – the longest-serving consort to the longest-reigning sovereign in British history. It is an extraordinary story, told with unique insight and authority by an author who knew the prince for more than forty years. As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. When he and Princess Elizabeth married and she became Queen of England much earlier than expected, it put an end to Philip's very enjoyable and successful naval career, and he spent the rest of his days supporting the Queen any way he could. He felt a bit out of sorts at first trying to find relevance in his own existence, but carved out productive roles for himself. One famous (and a favorite of mine) quote of his is, "What am I? A bloody amoeba!" This was in response to his discovery that his issue with the Queen would be titled with the House of Windsor and not his style of Mountbatten. I started this book sometime ago and due to other reading pressures it was put to one side, my idea was that due to the nature of it being factual and not a fiction read that I would dip in and out of. Sadly, that plan didn't happen either as it's taken me over a year to finish. Prince Philip never commented on the Netflix series The Crown, but this personal and revelatory book tells his side of the story: truly, it is the final portrait.The author has access to a lot of people and a lot of material of Prince Philip's life and work, plus years of being in his orbit so he is in a way privileged, unlike lots of biographers out there. I do feel that Brandreth makes convincing arguments that Prince Philip worked hard through his life, was truly supportive to Queen Elizabeth, and they were a well-suited married pair. I have felt many times he was given a very "bad press," so I was happy to see that Brandreth was not afraid to cover the many gaffs and "scandalous behaviours." I suspected that the media made far too much over small signs, and created BS out of whole cloth, and Prince Philip and I entirely agree in principle about the effect of Rupert Murdoch has had on the world. Philip and Elizabeth were both royal by birth, both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria, but, in temperament and upbringing, they were two very different people. The Queen’s childhood was loving and secure, the Duke’s was turbulent: his grandfather assassinated, his father arrested, his family exiled, his parents separated when he was only ten. Elizabeth and Philip met as cousins in the 1930s. They married in 1947, aged twenty-one and twenty-six.

PS: For those of you thinking I'm pro-monarchy , truth is he reminded so very much of my own beloved grandfather....Rest In Peace. Very thorough and engaging take on Prince Philip of Edinburgh. I enjoyed especially the “did he or did he not??” energy of the chapters discussing his potential infidelities, since I was already very curious about the topic, and felt satisfied with the answer that Brandreth provided. Love, after all, can come in different forms, and the type of intellectual love that he forms with his female friends is the kind of love that I too reserve for people whom I admire and respect but would never have romantic feelings for. Fascinating still is the depiction of Philip and Elizabeth’s relationship, especially under the context of the history of instability in the British monarchy history (as well as in Philip’s childhood). This book has successfully torn apart the fairytale, idol-like image that I’d had of the famous royal couple, yet replaced it with the story of two very flawed individuals who manage to find contentment and even happiness in a life of constrained duty. The latter, I think, is much more worth learning from and appreciating. Philip - elusive, complex, controversial, challenging, often humorous, sometimes irascible - is the man Elizabeth II once described as her 'constant strength and guide'. Who was he? What was he really like? What is the truth about those 'gaffes' and the rumours of affairs? This is the final portrait of an unexpected and often much-misunderstood figure. It is also the portrait of a remarkable marriage that endured for more than seventy years. Philip was very wary and disdainful of the press. Also, as a conversationalist he loved to be contrary almost in a debate-like form, which made things very interesting but sometimes challenging for the person speaking with him. He also believed that one should not talk about themselves much, but focus on the other person. As mentioned before, he was a great letter writer and would often try to help anyone in the family with careful advice, such as when he wrote to Princess Diana about her marriage troubles with Prince Charles. He didn't like to judge or interfere in his children's marriages, but if he felt he could help in some small way, he would take to his typewriter and offer his perspective and encouragement.Prince Philip never commented on the Netflix series 'The Crown', but this personal and revelatory book tells his side of the story: truly, it is the final portrait."

Brandreth explores a temperament on the brink of anger and agitation with immense tact, even affection.’– THE SPECTATOR Philip: The Final Portrait is about as authorized a biography as you can get with the royal family. The author knew the Duke of Edinburgh for decades and worked with him on one of his charities, and even interviewed him from time to time to clarify facts and refute rumors. Philip - elusive, complex, controversial, challenging, often humorous, sometimes irascible - is the man Elizabeth II once described as her "constant strength and guide". Who was he? What was he really like? What is the truth about those "gaffes" and the rumors of affairs? This is the final portrait of an unexpected and often much-misunderstood figure. It is also the portrait of a remarkable marriage that endured for more than seventy years.This affectionate biography of Prince Philip is stuffed with entertaining anecdotes … so readable and refreshing even after the millions of words that have been written about Prince Philip in the past couple of weeks.’– THE TIMES How do you tell the story of a man like Prince Philip who lived through some remarkable social, economic, political and cultural changes without sounding like one of two types? This is no pro monarchy eulogy for those who may have doubts, this is a well written, respectful and at times profoundly endearing tribute to a man who certainly left his mark in this world, and whose presence I suspect the author misses very much. A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ ( The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ ( Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective. Gyles Brandreth is a writer, performer, former MP and government whip whose career has ranged from hosting Have I Got News For You to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London's West End. Currently a reporter with The One Show on BBC1 and a regular on Radio 4's Just a Minute, his acclaimed Victorian detective stories -THE OSCAR WILDE MURDER MYSTERIES - are now being published in nineteen countries around the world and are currently in development for TV. All six books in the series, OSCAR WILDE AND THE CANDLELIGHT MURDERS, OSCAR WILDE AND THE RING OF DEATH, OSCAR WILDE AND THE DEAD MAN'S SMILE, OSCAR WILDE AND THE NEST OF VIPERS, OSCAR WILDE AND THE VATICAN MURDERS and OSCAR WILDE AND THE MURDERS AT READING GAOL are available from John Murray. You can find out more about the Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries at www.oscarwildemurdermysteries.com and at www.johnmurray.co.uk and about Gyles Brandreth at www.gylesbrandreth.net.