Loyal for 70 years flirty Prince Philip had a reputation as a ladies man and enjoyed the company of attractive women
While his love for the Queen has never been in question the Duke of Edinburgh's monogamy has often been the subject of speculation
HE has been the enduring companion at the Queen’s side for more than 70 years, winning plaudits for his duty and devotion.
Indeed, since Thursday’s announcement that the 95-year-old Duke of Edinburgh is to step down from public service, much has been made of his dedication to royal duty.
And it was a duty that covered not just the many times he accompanied the Queen but also the thousands of engagements he undertook alone.
They have included long voyages with pals aboard the royal yacht Britannia, separating him from his wife for up to six months each year.
While his love for the Queen has never been in question, Prince Philip’s monogamy has often been the subject of speculation. While infidelity has never been proven, one thing seems certain — the Duke enjoys the company of attractive women.
In the words of former Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter: “He has always liked window shopping, but he doesn’t buy.”
Philip’s reputation as a ladies’ man predates his 1947 marriage to the young Princess Elizabeth.
A dashing naval officer, he already had a string of romantic liaisons under his belt by the time he wed.
There was his romantic friendship with Canadian debutante Osla Benning, and three flings while posted in Australia — society beauty Sue Other-Gee, close friend Georgina Kennard and Sandra Jacques, with whom it is said he had “a very full love affair”.
Palace courtiers were alarmed by his history. George VI’s private secretary, Sir Tommy Lascelles, even warned that Philip was “rough, ill-mannered, uneducated and would probably not be faithful”.
And although the prince was infatuated with his wife, saying he had “fallen in love completely and unreservedly”, he quickly grew frustrated with life as a royal consort.
Forced to give up his naval career, he found he had no real status in the palace and was always playing second fiddle to the Queen.
Maybe because she understood his annoyance, the Queen tolerated his decision to spend long periods away from her on solo engagements around the world.
His trips were usually undertaken with male friends aboard the royal yacht Britannia, where Philip could get a sniff of freedom.
However, their prolonged separations allowed tongues to wag. The Queen mostly ignored the rumour mill but her patience must have been tested to the limit by one notorious incident in October 1948.
She was eight months pregnant with Charles when her husband embarked on a bender that resulted in headlines such as “The Prince and the Showgirl” around the world.
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The “showgirl” was actress Pat Kirkwood, 27, the West End’s biggest star, famous for her shapely legs.
She met the prince, also 27, when he crashed drunkenly into her dressing room with his friend — and her then boyfriend — Baron Nahum, the court photographer.
Philip drove Pat erratically to a Mayfair restaurant in his sports car — nearly causing an accident in the process — then on to a nightclub, where they stayed up until dawn dancing cheek-to-cheek.
Pat always denied rumours of an affair, but they refused to die. Her friends believe that her association with Philip is the reason she never received any official honours, despite 60 years of stardom.
She tellingly revealed: “I suspect he felt trapped and rarely got a chance to be himself. I think I got off on the right foot because I made him laugh.”
However, letters between her and Philip that came to light after her death in 2007, aged 86, referred to the gossip as a “ridiculous rumour” spread by “evil-minded” people, indicating an affair never happened.
But there was plenty more speculation. In October 1956 the prince set sail on Britannia with pal Mike Parker and had still not returned by the following February.
American newspapers speculated that there was a rift between the royal couple, and cruelly reported that women were being smuggled aboard the royal yacht.
The Queen put out an official denial of any marital problems in a Palace statement that said: “It is quite untrue that there is a rift between the Queen and the Duke.”
Then she flew to Portugal to meet him, with a cheeky joke up her sleeve. Philip had been photographed with a “full set” — a moustache and beard — so the Queen decided to wear false whiskers for their reunion.
By the time she arrived he was clean-shaven. The stunt was intended to show how relaxed she was about the swirling rumours.
Another woman who was persistently linked to the Duke over the years is Penelope Lady Brabourne. She is no stranger to heartbreak after her husband of 31 years, Lord Brabourne, left her for a Bahamian fashion designer in 2010.
Blonde, slim and strikingly beautiful, Lady Brabourne, 64, has been Philip’s partner in carriage driving competitions since 1994.
She has also been a regular guest at the weekend house parties he holds at secluded Wood Farm, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, but never stays when the Queen is there.
Sources say she acts as the prince’s confidante and shares his boisterous sense of humour. The Queen has always been keen to show how relaxed she is about the relationship, making sure Lady Brabourne tops any palace party guest list.
Sacha, Duchess of Abercorn once explained that “The Queen gives Philip a lot of leeway. Her father told her, ‘Remember he’s a sailor. They come in on the tide’.” Sacha should know — as she is another of Philip’s close female friends who has been a source of constant speculation.
Lady Abercorn, who at 71 is 25 years Philip’s junior, admits there is a “highly charged chemistry” between them but insisted: “I did not go to bed with him. He isn’t like that.”
Other women who have caused feverish chatter over the years include Hollywood actress Merle Oberon, who kept a signed photograph of Philip in a silver frame and entertained him lavishly at her estate in Mexico City, Liverpudlian belly dancer Patricia Kluge, who endeared herself to him by taking up carriage driving, and TV personality Katie Boyle, who called claims that Philip once rapidly exited the back of her house as her husband arrived at the front as “pure fabrication”.
When the prince’s childhood friend Helen Cordet, a Greek cabaret star, refused to reveal the paternity of her two children after she had separated from her first husband, it was assumed Philip was the father.
The record was later set straight — their father is a French airman who became Helen’s second husband.
More outrageously, Philip has also been linked to ex-French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the novelist Daphne du Maurier and Princess Alexandra, the Queen’s cousin.
The latter claim is especially far-fetched — the Queen has continued to lavish honours on her cousin, which would be highly unlikely if there was anything untoward in her dealings with Philip. The truth is that not a shred of evidence of a physical relationship between Philip and any of his playmates has ever been found.
He still lovingly calls his wife Cabbage, while she has called him “my strength and stay all these years”.
The Queen long ago accepted that he needs “a lot of amusing”. She lets him flirt, knowing he will always do his duty by his country and by her.
And who would dare question his devotion? A journalist who once had the nerve to mention rumours of affairs felt the full blast of his anger.
He said: “Good God, woman! Have you ever stopped to think that for years I’ve not moved anywhere without a policeman accompanying me?
“How the hell could I have got away with anything like that?”
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Windsors at war in TV drama
WITH Diana’s ghost, the death of The Queen and the dethroning of her power-mad son, King Charles III is set to be one of the most controversial BBC dramas ever.
Originally an Olivier Award-winning play, the BBC2 show reportedly struggled to find a cast at first, as many actors feared being blacklisted for future honours.
The 90-minute special, which sees Prince William force his father to abdicate, does not hold back.
It starts with Prince Charles confessing to dreaming of his mother dying of a rare disease or in a helicopter crash.
Princess Diana appears twice as a ghost, separately telling ex-husband Charles and son William that they both can be the “greatest king”.
Prince Harry’s legitimacy is questioned by his fictional black republican love interest, Jessica, while the Duchess of Cambridge is portrayed as scheming. She and William are slapped by Camilla.
Even The Sun on Sunday gets a cheeky mention after Jessica’s ex-lover threatens to send naked pictures of her to Britain’s best Sunday paper.
The only comment Buckingham Palace has made was via a note to the late Tim Pigott-Smith, above centre, after he had also played Prince Charles on stage, telling him the prince did not wear a wedding ring. He had forgotten to take off his own for a performance.
Tim, who died aged 70 last month, shortly after filming, said: “It suggests we were being informed that the palace knew what was going on but were not concerned enough to take action. It was like a royal yellow card.”
- King Charles III airs on BBC2 this Wednesday at 9pm and is available on DVD and digital download from May 15.