Duke at 90

Notably "the longest-serving consort in British royal history", Prince and Duke Phillip of Edinburgh, seemed somewhat uncomfortable with perfectly clear questions asked by Fiona Bruce on BBC 1 celebrating his achievments throughout his career,  as well as marriage and birthday. Martin Palmer began with: 

"Get him on a bad day and it’s quite hard work. Get him on a good day and you really don’t want to be with anybody else." Hoping for a good day was shortlived as there appeared many awkward silences with one word answers and at times snappy comebacks. And though he proclaimed his disinterest as well as lack of eagerness to be interviewed, he proceeded.

Appearing to be frail yet buxom, quick witted and sarcastic at times, the duke recreated the image he has gained with his personality in the press over the years. His memorable 1986 comment/joke on British students gaining slitty- eyes if they continued to study in China during a visit, was old news to the now much older Duke, who admitted he had forgotten all about it. A regretful leave from the navy and issues surrounding his family life as a child, were also dismissed as clearly either uncomfortable topics, or moments of boredom by the Duke who clearly tried to quickly answer in order to move on.His charity schemes (which includes the popular Duke of Edinburgh scheme) however which are 800 to date, depicted him as a kind and humble citizen, who up to the age of ninety is still involved in a greater good, eventhough retiring. Yet his reluctance to accept all the glory, revealed a humble man who admitted he gets given too much credit, shifting the compliments to a second party.
 
An overall concern he highlighted as more detrimental was that he did not consider himself as "green" so to speak.  "There’s a difference between being concerned for the conservation of nature and being a bunny hugger,” he proclaimed. "Can you imagine?"
Nevertheless, though detaining a serious role for years, the Dukes ability to make jokes was apparent whilst juxtaposed with clips of his stern relationship with the Queen were in high supply. Shots of her coronation depicted him as second best constantly, rightly so, compared to her majesty. Instantly, one can not help but to understand why the Duke's position is not as respected, the Queen constantly the centre of attention whilst Philip is automatically the fly on the wall, and happily at that. Yet his role as the family comforter was clear as he supported the family at Princess Diana's funeral and attended Prince William's wedding recently.
 
A forthcoming strategy concerning the coming years for the Duke is to relax as he talked of plans to release his responsibilitues to others so he can retire at the age of 90. 
An excellent try at a satisfying interview by Fiona Bruce who probed the Duke, yet still a riveting well produced documentary which though informative, revealed a personality we had expected whilst  portraying a highly respected figure who has indeed surpassed his expectations.