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LETTER: Prince Philip was just an average guy who married money and power

As published in Saltwire; April 21, 2021.

Even in times of pandemic and financial austerity, nations like Canada and the U.K. always manage to fund lavish state funerals when noted politicians or royal luminaries pass on.

These events are supposedly staged for public benefit. For example, official Britain spared no expense in celebrating the life and times of the late Prince Philip; a Greek/Dane artistocrat who received a Scottish dukedom while wearing an invented “royal” tartan; unavailable to any but the House of Windsor.

Let that sink in before continuing.

If the above-mentioned facts weren’t odd enough, I will add certain facts about public figures like Prince Philip. His many positive accomplishments: wartime naval service, travel, language skills etc. were not particularly unique or beyond the ability of the average person.

Therefore, we may conclude that his greatness lay in the fact that, rather than revel in the life of an idle consort; he engaged in positive but quite ordinary activities. Such a choice is hardly notable in a world where many average people accomplish quite extraordinary things without a word of praise or public notice.

Aside from Philip’s frequent resort to coarse commentary; the man seemed fairly harmless, really just an average guy behind a really rich and famous woman.

Morgan Duchesney,
Ottawa

SHORTER VERSION

Prince Philip’s Greatness was Pretty Ordinary

As published in the Toronto Star: April 21, 2021

Prince Philip took a keen interest in Canada, but stayed above politics, former GGs and PM say, April 9

Official Britain spared no expense in celebrating the life and times of the late Prince Philip, of Greek and Danish heritage, who received a Scottish dukedom while wearing an invented “royal” tartan, unavailable to any but the House of Windsor.

Prince Philip’s many positive accomplishments, wartime naval service, travel, language skills, and so on, were not particularly unique or beyond the ability of the average person.

His “greatness” lay in the fact that, rather than revel in the life of an idle consort, he engaged in positive, but ordinary, activities. Such a choice is hardly notable in a world where many average people accomplish quite extraordinary things without a word of praise or public notice.

He was just an average guy behind a really rich and famous woman.

Morgan Duchesney, Ottawa