Prince Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history, left an indelible mark on the royal family with his wisdom and guidance. He said his life was spent as a patron, president or member of more than 780 clubs. This extraordinary commitment speaks to the enormous depth of his commitment to public service. He was an influential mentor to the newer members of the royal family, notably Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. His lessons on how to survive and thrive in a royal environment were priceless.
During his decades-long regular royal work Prince Philip developed deep connections. These relationships greatly shaped the work and encounters of everyone who worked or grew under him. He was crucial in helping Princess Diana as she traveled down the tumultuous road of liberating herself from the strictures of royal life. According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, “When (Diana) found the restrictions of royal life difficult, it was Philip who helped her.” Making sure that Diana was comfortable and engaged was most important at formal occasions, and his support shined through at these events.
Along those lines, Prince Philip was equally warm in welcoming Meghan Markle into the royal family. Reflecting on her early days, Markle recounted a memorable dinner with him, stating, “At dinner, I was sat next to H’s grandfather and I just thought it was so wonderful… we chatted and it was so great.” This symbolic gesture spoke to Philip’s ability, like no other, to put newcomers at ease despite the larger expectations of royal life.
Prince Philip showed Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle how to be royals first, women second. He urged them not to seek glory for themselves. He drilled into them the journalistic golden rule of never talking about yourself in an interview. “If you believe the attention is for you personally, you’re going to end up in trouble,” he advised. This point struck a chord with Kate Middleton, whose grace and decorum of late have turned the Duchess of Cambridge into something of a modern royalty.
In a recent interview, Gyles Brandreth, one of Britain’s top royal watchers, picked up on Kate’s following of this invaluable lesson. He commented, “I have been on walkabout with the Duchess of Cambridge. She does not look at the camera. Whenever she is interviewed, Catherine talks about the matter in hand, never about herself.” This approach has fostered her reputation as the family’s level-headed member.
Prince Philip’s mentorship went well beyond public relations and into decidedly more practical guidance on how to navigate the minefield that is royal engagement. He advised Diana to sit next to him at black-tie dinners instead of her husband, ensuring she felt supported and secure during these formal occasions. Seward elaborated on this point, saying, “Once she was married, she never sat next to her husband; she was always sat next to Philip at the endless black-tie dinners, and he took care of her.”
His preoccupation in particular with the younger members of the family showed that he was aware of the danger that royal celebrity can bring. Philip knew that the fascination with royalty could be intoxicating and always warned not to get lost in the shiny object of royalty. He always insisted that their jobs were to represent the Royal Family as opposed to pursuing their own celebrity.
