Prince Philip was “essentially homeless” in his youth after his royal family was exiled from Greece, commentators have said. With no place of their own, the royals were forced to bounce from country to country, eventually leaving the young Duke of Edinburgh “without a rudder” himself. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond spoke to Channel 5 documentary, ‘Prince Philip: The Bachelor Years’, about the effect this had on the Queen’s future husband.
Royal historian Dr Anna Whitelock agreed, adding: “This sense of Philip really without a home, without a rudder.
“He didn’t have a sense of himself or a clear identity.
“I think that really marks Philip out in his early years.
“But Philip finds a spiritual home when it’s agreed that he should go to Gordonstoun near the highlands of Scotland.”
The Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed his experience so much that he made all his sons, Charles, Andrew and Edward, attend too.
Andrew was said to have loved it unlike Charles.
The Prince of Wales is said to have loathed Gordonstoun, branding it “Colditz in kilts”.
However, later in life, he admitted that it had taught him to “accept challenges and take the initiative”.
Despite this, both of Charles’ sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were educated closer to home and attended Eton.
