To: Alan Smithee who wrote (210753 ) 11/20/2011 2:50:54 PM From: Neeka Read Replies (1) | Respond to What a tragic story:He had the most unorthodox childhood: with his mother in a psychiatric clinic and his exiled father mostly absent, Prince Philip spent his early years being sent from post to pillar. Despite a succession of family tragedies, he emerged capable, charming and uncomplaining. As the longest-serving royal consort in British history approaches 90, our exclusive extract from Philip Eade’s new book, Young Prince Philip: His Turbulent Early Life , shows how his traumatic childhood shaped him and details the strength of character he showed in the face of such tragedy and turbulence. Prince Philip ’s heavily pregnant sister, Cecile, set off on the short drive through the woods from the Hesse family’s old hunting box at Wolfsgarten to Frankfurt aerodrome to fly to London for a family wedding. With her were her husband, George Donatus, or “Don”, who had recently succeeded his father as the Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine; his widowed mother; and their two young sons, aged six and four, who were due to be pages. Air travel was growing in popularity but most Europeans considered it risky and unpredictable, particularly in the high winds and dense fogs of autumn. Cecile was reputedly so terrified of aeroplanes that she always wore black when she flew. However, Don Hesse was a dedicated and fearless flyer, like the young Philip, who made frequent continental trips to visit relations. An eyewitness described seeing the aeroplane coming down out of the fog and hitting the top of a brickworks chimney at about 100mph. There were no survivors. In the charred wreckage were the remains of an infant, prematurely delivered, lying beside the body of Cecile. It was suggested that the pilot had attempted to land only when he became aware that the Grand Duchess had begun to give birth. telegraph.co.uk
