A magazine survey questioned the heterosexuality of Prince Philip, who was married for 74 years to Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1947 Philip of Greece and Denmark renounced his Greek nationality, his religion and all his titles to start a new life with his beloved Elizabeth.
Throughout the years many rumors pointed out that the marriage for Philip was a prison in which he only managed to survive on alcohol, revelry, and mistresses.
Did Prince Philip Really Have an Affair?
The nights out were becoming more and more common. Prince Philip frequented a club in Soho and rumors of infidelity began to surface.
In 1958, the scandal of Michael Parker, Philip’s close friend and first private secretary, made these rumors gain momentum. Parker had to resign in the middle of a tour because he was divorcing his wife Eileen Allan who accused him of adultery.
It is worth noting that Michael was the one who introduced the Duke of Edinburgh in a world of dubious reputation and who made all kinds of rumors surrounding their marriage to be fanned.
Eileen wrote a 1982 book called ‘Step Aside for Royalty’ where she revealed that her husband and Philip used the pseudonyms Murgatroyd and Winterbottom to “get out of the palace”.
But, did Philip really cheat on the Queen?
There is no evidence of his infidelity, but throughout the royal couple’s more than 70 years of life together, the Duke of Edinburgh has been described as a womanizer and has had affairs with numerous women, the most famous of whom was actress Pat Kirkwood.
Galina Ulanova, said to be Philip’s love interest, appears in the second episode of The Crown, but there is no evidence that they had an affair.
However, there have been rumors of a real relationship with Kirkwood, the 1930s and 1940s stage actress whose legs critic Kenneth Tynan once called “the eight wonders of the world.”
Philip and Kirkwood reportedly dated about seven times, and although she always denied having an intimate relationship, she had to plead with Philip and the palace to disavow when rumors of the “prince and the showgirl” began to circulate. They never complied.
“There’s absolutely nothing you can do about it unless you file a libel suit,” said Michael Thornton, a friend of the actress who obtained the secret letters between Philip and Kirkwood. Invasion of privacy, fabrications and false quotes are the least of our concerns.”
Thornton also reported that Kirkwood told The Reporter:
“Normally a lady is not expected to defend her honor. That’s what gentlemen are supposed to do. If Prince Philip had gone home with his pregnant wife that night instead of coming to my dressing room as an uninvited guest, he would have lived a happier and easier life.”
In addition to Kirkwood, the prince has had affairs with TV presenter Cathy Boyle, singer Hélène Cordet, actress Mar Oberon, writer Daphne Du Maurier, Princess Alexandra (the queen’s cousin), Duchess Abercorn (with whom he says he is “madly in love” but “not sleeping with”). He also had relations with the Duchess of Abercorn (with whom he said to be “madly in love” but “not sleeping with him”). A journalist even asked Philippe about the possibility of having children with other women and suggested that the duke had a “homosexual relationship” with former French President Valérie Giscard d’Estaing. Philippe did not respond to these questions. So, was the Duke of Edinburgh gay? There is no evidence to confirm that.
However, when asked if she believed Philip slept with his friends, the Duchess of Abercord replied, “I doubt it very much.” No, I’m sure he doesn’t. …… But he’s human, so who knows. I don’t know.” Unless you’re in a room with lit candles, who knows?
Philip is also related to Penelope “Penny” Natchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma (wife of Norton Natchbull, grandson of Philip’s uncle Louis Mountbatten and close family friend). Their relationship is a key plot point in the fifth season of the Crown series. Again, of course, there is no evidence of infidelity or misconduct, but Philip and Penny were undoubtedly close. Penny was one of 30 people invited to Prince Philip’s private funeral in April 2021.
Was Prince Philip gay? What has been said
Prince Philip’s reputation of being a womanizer accompanied him throughout his life and although the list of mistresses attributed to him is very long, homosexual tendencies were also attributed to him since he devoted obsessive attention to physical care to always look impeccable.
In the book ‘The Royals’, by the American Kitty Kelley, banned in the United Kingdom, his reputation as a ladies’ man is questioned. In 1994, a well-known homosexual writer upon hearing the Duke’s name commented: “Ah, yes. I knew Philip when he was Philipa”. During an interview with the Independent on Sunday.
Was Queen Elizabeth Husband Gay?
Because of the life of revelry lived by the husband of Elizabeth II and the gossip that circulates, Celebrity Post magazine conducted a survey asking if they believed that Prince Phillip was gay.
69% of the respondents did not believe that Prince Philip was gay. A total of 873 Internet users from all over the world participated in the survey.