Prince Philip was exiled from Greece as a young child not due to any actions of his own, but as a direct consequence of his father's exile. His father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, was sent into exile by an army court-martial following Greece's calamitous defeat in a war with Turkey.
The Circumstances of Prince Philip's Exile
Prince Philip was born in Corfu, Greece, as the youngest child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. His early life in Greece was cut short due to a significant political upheaval.
At little more than a year old, Prince Philip's family was forced to flee Greece. The catalyst for this exile was the outcome of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), also known as the Asia Minor Campaign. Following Greece's devastating loss in this conflict, there was widespread disillusionment and a military coup.
| Key Figure/Event | Description |
|---|---|
| Prince Philip | Exiled from Greece as an infant (just over one year old) as part of his family's flight. |
| Prince Andrew | Prince Philip's father, a commander in the Hellenic Army, was court-martialed and banished from Greece for his perceived responsibility in the military defeat. |
| Princess Alice | Prince Philip's mother, who accompanied her husband and young son into exile. |
| Greco-Turkish War | A military conflict (1919-1922) between Greece and Turkey. Greece's defeat led to significant political instability and the subsequent court-martial of military leaders. |
| Army Court-Martial | The military tribunal that tried Prince Andrew and others, ultimately sentencing him to exile. |
The Role of His Father's Court-Martial
Prince Andrew, who had served in the Greek army, faced severe charges by an army court-martial. This tribunal sought to hold military and political figures accountable for the nation's disastrous defeat in the war against Turkey. Prince Andrew was found guilty of disobedience and abandoning his post during the conflict. Though initially facing a death sentence, it was commuted to banishment for life from Greece.
As a direct result of his father's forced exile, Prince Philip, along with his parents and siblings, left Greece aboard a British warship, HMS Calypso, on December 2, 1922. This marked the beginning of his life in exile, which primarily involved his upbringing and education in various European countries and later in the United Kingdom.
This pivotal event in his early life meant that Prince Philip had no say in his departure from Greece; he was merely a child swept up in the political turmoil and consequences faced by his royal family.
