It is funny how we think we know everything about the royals. We see the photos of them walking behind a coffin or standing on a balcony, and we fill in the blanks with our own drama. But honestly, the bond between Prince Harry and Prince Philip was nothing like the "rebel vs. traditionalist" narrative the papers loved to push.
They were actually a lot alike.
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People forget that before Philip was the stoic patriarch, he was the ultimate royal disruptor. He was the "outsider" who married into the firm and had to figure out his own way to be useful. Does that sound familiar? It should. Harry clearly saw a mirror of himself in his grandfather, even if their lives took very different turns in the end.
The "Master of the Barbecue" You Didn't See
When Philip passed away in 2021, Harry released a statement that kind of shocked people with how casual it was. He didn't just talk about "His Royal Highness" or "The Duke of Edinburgh." He talked about a guy who was the "master of the barbecue" and a "legend of banter."
Basically, he described a normal grandpa.
This is the stuff that gets lost in the headlines. While the world saw two men separated by a massive family rift and several thousand miles of Atlantic Ocean, the reality was much more grounded. Harry has talked about how they’d Zoom during the pandemic. Philip, being 99 and apparently not a fan of tech etiquette, would just slam the laptop shut when he was done talking. No "goodbye," no "clicking the end call button." Just thud.
Harry loved that. He loved the no-nonsense, "cheeky right ‘til the end" energy that Philip carried. It was a shared DNA of not giving a damn about optics when the cameras weren't rolling.
The Military Connection: More Than Just Medals
You can’t talk about Prince Harry and Prince Philip without talking about the uniforms. This wasn't just about dressing up for Trooping the Colour. For both men, the military was the only place they felt like they could just be men, not symbols.
Philip had a genuine, decorated career in the Royal Navy during World War II. He saw real action. He was mentioned in dispatches. Harry, as we know, served two tours in Afghanistan.
When Harry was stripped of his honorary military titles after "Megxit," it reportedly stung him more than anything else. Why? Because many of those roles were handed down directly from Philip. Philip was the Captain General of the Royal Marines for 64 years before he handed the baton to Harry in 2017.
- 1953: Philip becomes Captain General.
- 2017: Harry takes over the role.
- 2020: Harry has to give it back.
That hand-off was a huge moment of pride for both of them. It was a bridge between generations of "soldier princes." Losing that bridge was a quiet tragedy in their relationship that many royal commentators overlook in favor of the louder, more scandalous drama.
That 1957 Photo Everyone Obsesses Over
If you haven't seen the side-by-side photo of a bearded Prince Philip on a 1957 magazine cover next to a bearded Prince Harry, go find it. It’s eerie. They are identical.
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But the resemblance was more than skin deep. Philip was known for his "gaffes"—those blunt, often politically incorrect comments that made palace officials cringe. Harry had his own "wild child" phase that did the exact same thing. They both had a streak of "I’m going to say what I think, and you can deal with it."
What Really Happened at the Funeral?
There was so much speculation about Harry’s return for Philip’s funeral in April 2021. It was the first time he’d seen his family since the Oprah interview. Everyone was looking for a "vibe shift" or a sign of peace.
In his memoir Spare, Harry actually gets pretty raw about this. He describes walking through the gardens at Frogmore with Charles and William after the service. He felt like he was speaking a different language than them.
But even in that tension, his respect for Philip stayed intact. He used the Royal Marines motto, Per Mare, Per Terram ("By Sea, By Land"), to sign off his tribute. It was a private signal. A way of saying, "I’m still one of you, even if I’m not there anymore."
The "Forgotten" VJ Day Tribute
Fast forward to late 2025. Harry recently sent a letter and a wreath to the Burma Star Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. He did it quietly, through a friend, because he didn't want to overshadow the official royal commemorations.
In that letter, he specifically mentioned Philip’s service in the Pacific during WWII. He talked about how Philip spoke with "quiet humility" about the war. It’s a rare look at the Philip we didn't see on TV—not the one making jokes, but the one who carried the weight of what he’d seen at sea. Harry is clearly trying to keep that specific part of Philip’s legacy alive, even from California.
The Complicated Truth
Look, it wasn't all sunshine and barbecue. Philip was a "Company Man" through and through. He believed in the institution above everything. It’s highly likely he was incredibly frustrated by Harry’s decision to step back.
But "frustrated" doesn't mean "hateful."
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Sources close to the palace have often said that Philip actually had a soft spot for the "spares." He knew what it was like to be the second fiddle. He knew the frustration of having a lot of energy and nowhere to put it.
Actionable Insights: How to View Their Legacy
If you’re trying to make sense of the Prince Harry and Prince Philip dynamic, stop looking for a hero and a villain. It’s more helpful to look at it through these lenses:
- Look for the "Soldier First" mindset: Their bond was forged in the military. If you want to understand why Harry still talks about Philip so much, look at the work he does with the Invictus Games. It’s the ultimate tribute to the veteran's life Philip lived.
- Separate the "Firm" from the Family: It is possible for Philip to have hated the choice Harry made while still loving the grandson. Harry’s tributes suggest he holds onto the man, not the office.
- Watch the "Spares": History repeats itself. Philip was a consort (a type of spare), and Harry was a spare. Their shared rebellious streak wasn't a coincidence; it was a byproduct of their positions.
The next time you see a headline about royal feuds, remember the "Master of the Barbecue." Family is messy, even when you live in a palace—or a mansion in Montecito. Philip lived to be 99 by "just getting on with it," a phrase Harry used to describe him. Maybe that's the best way to look at their relationship, too.
To really understand the nuances of the Duke of Edinburgh's life and his influence on the younger royals, I'd suggest looking into the official biographies by Gyles Brandreth, who was a personal friend of Philip's and captures that "cheeky" side Harry loved so much.