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5 Decades Of Rumors: Did Prince Philip Really Cheat On Queen Elizabeth II?

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The enduring marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the longest in British royal history, spanning over 73 years until his death in 2021. Yet, for decades, their union was shadowed by persistent, sensational rumors of infidelity that continue to resurface in biographies, documentaries, and popular culture, most notably the Netflix series *The Crown*.

As of late December 2025, the definitive answer remains the same: there is no concrete, verifiable evidence to confirm that Prince Philip ever cheated on the Queen. Despite the lack of proof, the sheer number of alleged mistresses and the high-profile nature of the claims have cemented this question as one of the most intriguing and enduring mysteries of the modern British monarchy.

The Life and Lineage of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

To understand the context of the rumors, it is essential to first look at the man at the center of the storm. Prince Philip’s life was one of duty, service, and a constant struggle to define his role within the confines of the British royal family.

  • Full Name: Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.
  • Titles: Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Prince Consort (unofficial).
  • Born: June 10, 1921, Mon Repos, Corfu, Greece.
  • Died: April 9, 2021, Windsor Castle, England.
  • Parents: Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg.
  • Wife: Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth).
  • Marriage Date: November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey.
  • Children: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward.
  • Lineage: He was a member of the House of Glücksburg and was exiled from Greece as an infant. He renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles and became a naturalized British subject before his marriage.

Queen Elizabeth II: A Brief Profile

  • Full Name: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.
  • Titles: Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.
  • Born: April 21, 1926, Mayfair, London.
  • Died: September 8, 2022, Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
  • Reign: 1952–2022.

The High-Profile Allegations: The Women Behind the Rumors

The alleged affairs of the Duke of Edinburgh were not isolated incidents but a series of claims that spanned decades. These rumors often centered on women who were attractive, successful, and moved in the same high-society circles as the Prince.

The Patricia Kirkwood Scandal: The First and Most Persistent

The earliest and most enduring rumor involved the celebrated stage actress and singer, Patricia "Pat" Kirkwood. The scandal erupted in 1948, shortly after the birth of Prince Charles, when Princess Elizabeth was pregnant with Princess Anne.

  • The Event: Philip and Kirkwood met after her headlining performance at the London Hippodrome. The Prince reportedly went backstage and later spent an entire night dancing with her at a social event.
  • The Fallout: The press immediately ran with the story, creating a major royal headache. The phrase "the Prince and the Showgirl" became a coded reference to the alleged affair.
  • The Denial: Patricia Kirkwood consistently and vehemently denied any intimate relationship with the Prince throughout her life. In 1994, she stated, "A lady is not asked to comment on her relationship with the Duke of Edinburgh."
  • The Confirmation of Denial: After Kirkwood’s death in 2007, letters between her and Prince Philip were reportedly discovered. These letters confirmed that their relationship was nothing more than a friendship, though the Prince had been indiscreet in his behavior.

The Ballerina and The Crown: Galina Ulanova

The infidelity narrative gained renewed traction with the release of *The Crown*, which implied that Philip may have had an affair with the Russian ballerina Galina Ulanova in the 1950s.

  • The Dramatization: The series suggested a dalliance during Philip's famous 1956-1957 world tour on the royal yacht *Britannia*.
  • The Reality Check: Royal biographers and commentators quickly pointed out that there is no evidence whatsoever that Prince Philip and Ulanova had an affair. The rumor appears to be a dramatic invention by the show's writers to illustrate the distance and strain in the royal marriage at the time.

The Long List of Other Alleged Entities

Beyond the two most famous names, the gossip columns and royal biographies have linked Prince Philip to a wide array of other accomplished women over the years, further fueling the topical authority of the long-standing rumor. These connections, while largely speculative, contributed to his public image as a restless figure.

  • Katie Boyle: A popular television presenter and game show host. She was frequently named in the press as a possible mistress.
  • Susan Barrantes: The mother of Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) and a member of the royal inner circle.
  • Penny Brabourne (Countess Mountbatten of Burma): A close friend of the Prince, their relationship was often scrutinized due to their shared passion for carriage driving and their undeniable closeness in later years.
  • The Profumo Affair Figures: Astonishingly, during the 1960s Profumo Affair—a political sex scandal that rocked Britain—top-secret FBI documents allegedly named Prince Philip as being "involved" with the two women at the center of the scandal, Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies. This claim has never been substantiated but illustrates the breadth of the rumors.
  • Zsa Zsa Gabor: The legendary Hungarian-American actress and socialite was also rumored to have been a conquest of the Duke.

The Royal Response and The Unbroken Bond

Despite the persistent claims, the royal couple presented a united front for over seven decades, a fact that many biographers argue is the strongest rebuttal to the infidelity rumors. The Queen's steadfast devotion to her husband was unwavering.

In 1995, in a rare moment of public acknowledgment of the gossip, Prince Philip was asked directly about the rumors of his affairs. His famous, pointed response was: "How could I? I've had a detective in the car with me on every single night out. So, how could I possibly get away with anything?"

The Queen's Stance and The Royal Family's Strategy

Royal experts suggest that Queen Elizabeth II chose to ignore the gossip, maintaining a strategy of dignified silence. This approach effectively starved the rumors of the oxygen of royal reaction, allowing the couple's extraordinary longevity to become the dominant narrative. The Queen’s famous tribute to Philip on their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1997, where she called him her "strength and stay," is often cited as the ultimate testament to their bond.

Ultimately, the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip was a partnership of duty, shared experience, and mutual respect. While the sensational claims of his alleged infidelities continue to serve as compelling fodder for dramatists and biographers, the historical record—as of today—lacks the evidence to move the story from the realm of rumor to the status of fact. The truth of what happened behind the closed doors of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the royal yacht *Britannia* is a secret Prince Philip took to his grave.

did prince philip cheat on queen elizabeth
did prince philip cheat on queen elizabeth

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