The Queen Mother and Prince Philip's Secret Feud | Behind Palace Doors | Absolute History

The Coronation in 1953 appeared to be a glittering triumph for the House of Windsor. But behind the scenes there was a three-cornered story of jealousy and rivalry at the highest level.

On one side Prince Philip was at odds with the Queen Mother over his desire to modernise the monarchy. On the other the old Queen was jealous of her daughter's sudden rise to power. The Coronation was a critical year for the young Queen Elizabeth. She was preparing to undergo the most ancient and important royal ritual, but the two people closest to her, the Queen Mother and Prince Philip had very different ideas about how it should be handled. Philip, the dashing but dangerously modern consort, was anxious that the Coronation should not be simply a stuffy replay of previous reigns. He wanted 'some features relevant to the world today'. But he was fiercely resisted by the Queen Mother and by Princess Mary, who referred to Philip as 'the Hun'.

The new Queen was caught in the middle. In Coronation Coup, we learn that Mountbatten, who had engineered the marriage between Philip and Elizabeth wanted the family name changed to Windsor-Mountbatten after her accession. Also, while the new Queen largely sided with her mother over arrangements for the Coronation, she backed Philip over perhaps the most important decision to televise the ceremony inside Westminster Abbey. In doing so she set a precedent for television to be given access to the most intimate rituals.

[eleanordefreitas]

The Queen mother was so kindly welcomed into the royal family but didn't extend that kindness to both Prince Philip and Princess Diana..

[alixvhessen]

What do those people mean by "who was that Prince namend Philip"?! They clearly knew who he was: a Prince of Greece and Denmark, descending from Tsars and Kings on his fathers side, a direct descendant of Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia and a great-great grandchild of Queen Victoria on his mother's who was herself born in the Queen's very presence at Windsor Castle. He is more royal than the Queen I should think!

[lafoaliu-wright]

RIP HRH Prince Phillips. He deserved to have his life legacy televised on all BBC channels. He brought so many changes to the royal family. Transitioning from royal traditions to the 20th century modern life. Especially allowing the media BBC to record the Queens coronation. UK and all Commonwealth Nations will surely miss him😢❤.

[kathleenwarner]

The Queen Mother wasn't as "sweet" a person as she was made out to be and she could and did hold a grudge like no one else. She never forgave Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson but LOVED being the Queen. She loved it so much they had a time getting her out of Buckingham Palace. She thought she could control the monarchy through her daughter. Much to the Queen Mothers' displeasure that didn't happen. She referred to Phillip as "the hun". I guess she forgot that her husband the King and her mother and father-in-law were all German. The only person she disliked more than Philip and also completely distrusted was his Uncle, "Dickie" Mountbatten. He's also the reason that she pushed the idea of Charles marrying Diana because Dickie wanted Charles to marry his grandaughter Amanda Knatchbull. The Queen Mother was having none of that. She was supposed to help get Diana acclimated and ready for all the protocol before the wedding while Diana was in Clarence House but, she didn't. Diana said, "she ignored me." She also drank A LOT and Queen Elizabeth was always having to cover her mother's overdrafts at Coutts, the Royals' Bank.

[bluewrenreilly]

Philip was a wonderful consort for Elizabeth tall handsome and a Royal himself.I can see she was very well pleased to have him beside her all those years.

[rachelclark]

They speak of Prince Phillip like he comes from a family of pig farmers. He and the Queen are 3rd cousins.

[maryjoycecrisol]

Prince philip so handsome...that not even one of his sons inherited his gorgeous face...

[elizabethhannah]

The Late Prince Phillip was the Late Queen's "Rock and Stay". The BRF were so fortunate to have him serve so dutifully his whole life. That's a wonderful video. The world was changing rapidly at that time and I think it was inevitable that the BRF would be required to "embrace" it.

[cristinajuan]

Prince Philip I appreciate your undying support to the Queen and the Monarchy as well . May you have eternal rest with your creator Amen

[cherylrichards]

As an American, I think televising the Coronation actually brought Queen Elisabeth closer to her ordinary, everyday people throughout the Commonwealth. Her citizens could put an actual face and voice to her name, not just a portrait on currency, stamp, and coin. The Queen and Prince Philip represented the new post-WWII world where the different social classes would mix, and not be separated as they were pre-WWII. This would be a major shift in thinking and acting and reacting with each other, and it was a shift the Old Guard didn't want to make.

[piustwelfth]

The nun shown behind the Queen Mother during the coronation ceremony is Prince Philip's mother. She became a Greek Orthodox nun later in her life.

[prinzdodo]

His charm never frays until the final days of his life. A truly gorgeous prince. Rest-In-Peace, Your Royal Highness.

[jameskiely]

That brash 'young' naval officer is now the oldest living member of the Royal Family and the third oldest ever.

[robertmartinjr]

Sadly the Queen’s mother didn’t know how to fade into the background like she should have. For someone who was such a traditionalist she sure didn’t practice what she preached.

[mchapman]

Prince Philip was higher born than Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Philips family probably would have looked down on her. He was born into married it.
Poor Philip not only had to spend his life walking behind his wife, he had to deal with that old bag too.

[jo-annandrews]

Yes, I must say a man who stands beside a wife and a wife who stands beside a husband is a cherished gift to the family. And an example that married life is possible.

[suzintex]

I love the illustrative language of the storytellers in this. Obviously the love and commitment that Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth had for each other was greater than any obstacle they faced. This speaks for how devoted they were to each other and their offspring.

[karlacoria]

RIP Prince Phillip. Since his death I’ve been reading more in depth about him. Truly amazing.

[SR-iygg]

"A continuation of her own [reign]?" "her own dynasty?" Seriously? The Queen Mother was not the monarch. She didn't reign, and it wasn't HER dynasty.

[KBQAA]

11:11 Philips' navy career was well established well before he married Elizabeth. He commanded two war ships during WWII. A significant milestone for a young naval officer.