Duke of Edinburgh on Mediterranean Fleet’s Summer Cruise, 1951

LT. CDR. The Duke of Edinburgh rows and water skis in the Sea of Marmara in Turkey on this day in 1951, during the Mediterranean Fleet’s Summer Cruise in his last few days as the Commander of HMS Magpie. As the health of King George V deteriorated, the Duke of Edinburgh ended his Naval Career and, with Princess Elizabeth, took on more Royal Duties, embarking on an extensive Tour of Canada and the United States that autumn and another to Australia that Winter, when the King passed away just days into their Tour and the Princess succeeded to the Throne as Queen Elizabeth II.

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One thought on “Duke of Edinburgh on Mediterranean Fleet’s Summer Cruise, 1951

  1. The Sea Duke certainly led an interesting life. It didn’t begin very auspiciously, but it really turned out to be an amazing adventure. May he rest in peace!

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