A disciplinarian education at Gordonstoun offered a rudderless young Prince Philip routine and fired his entrepreneurial spirit, a new film about his life suggests. 

In Wednesday’s BBC One film Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, members of the Windsor family and European royals share anecdotes about the Duke of Edinburgh‘s life including his early years at the tough boarding school in Moray. 

Philip attended the independent school, which still exists today, in the 1930s after his mother was sent to a sanatorium and he was exiled to the UK. 

Among the memories shared were those of Prince Bernhard of Baden, Prince Philip’s great nephew, who revealed his grandfather Berthold, who was married to the Duke’s second sister Theodora, had received letters from a teenage Philip encouraging him to help him make money from selling matches. 

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Prince Bernhard of Baden appeared in Wednesday's BBC One film Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers discussing the Duke's school years at Gordonstoun. The European royal, Prince Philip's great nephew, said the strict Scottish boarding school offered the Duke stability because he 'was in exile, he had no home and was penniless' when he arrived there

Prince Bernhard of Baden appeared in Wednesday's BBC One film Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers discussing the Duke's school years at Gordonstoun. The European royal, Prince Philip's great nephew, said the strict Scottish boarding school offered the Duke stability because he 'was in exile, he had no home and was penniless' when he arrived there

Prince Bernhard of Baden appeared in Wednesday’s BBC One film Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers discussing the Duke’s school years at Gordonstoun. The European royal, Prince Philip’s great nephew, said the strict Scottish boarding school offered the Duke stability because he ‘was in exile, he had no home and was penniless’ when he arrived there

Prince Bernhard, who was born in Germany, and is the eldest son of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, reveals how his grandfather - the Duke of Edinburgh's brother-in-law - received letters discussing a deal he'd struck with the school's barber to buy matches

Prince Bernhard, who was born in Germany, and is the eldest son of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, reveals how his grandfather - the Duke of Edinburgh's brother-in-law - received letters discussing a deal he'd struck with the school's barber to buy matches

Prince Bernhard, who was born in Germany, and is the eldest son of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, reveals how his grandfather – the Duke of Edinburgh’s brother-in-law – received letters discussing a deal he’d struck with the school’s barber to buy matches

The letters saw the teenage prince outlining plans to import 5,000 matches. Pictured: stamps on the letter sent to Prince Bernhard's grandfather, Berthold in the late 30s

The letters saw the teenage prince outlining plans to import 5,000 matches. Pictured: stamps on the letter sent to Prince Bernhard's grandfather, Berthold in the late 30s

The letters saw the teenage prince outlining plans to import 5,000 matches. Pictured: stamps on the letter sent to Prince Bernhard’s grandfather, Berthold in the late 30s

One of the two letters shown in the documentary, which show Philip's schoolboy signature.  Clearly keen to get his business deal off the ground he signs off with a PS, saying the barber visits 'every Tuesday'

One of the two letters shown in the documentary, which show Philip's schoolboy signature.  Clearly keen to get his business deal off the ground he signs off with a PS, saying the barber visits 'every Tuesday'

One of the two letters shown in the documentary, which show Philip’s schoolboy signature.  Clearly keen to get his business deal off the ground he signs off with a PS, saying the barber visits ‘every Tuesday’

The three-page letter outlines the Duke's plans to sell matches after sparking the interest of the Gordonstoun hairdresser

The three-page letter outlines the Duke's plans to sell matches after sparking the interest of the Gordonstoun hairdresser

The three-page letter outlines the Duke’s plans to sell matches after sparking the interest of the Gordonstoun hairdresser

Prince Bernhard discusses how the Scottish school offered stability to the consort-to-be, saying: ‘Prince Philip was in exile, he had no home and was penniless.’

In the film, Prince Charles, who also attended the school along with other male royals, also sheds light on how hard his father’s formative years were, saying: ‘My father didn’t talk about it a lot. It couldn’t have been easy. I mean, his sisters did tell me a little bit but it must have been very difficult.

‘He had to become very self reliant and it must have shaped his outlook on life.’ 

Prince Edward, said his education had moulded his father’s life, adding the establishment offered the young Duke of Edinburgh an outlet for his adventurous side.   

The royal explained: That was Gordonstoun – unless you got involved with different things, you never know where your passion really lies.’ 

‘The idea of being able to go off and do all sorts of adventures while you’re at school and be able to build up  those experiences – that would appeal to him. If you look at all the other activities he has got involved in, he was always taking up new things.’ 

Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, who also a student at the school added: ‘I know he certainly would have taken up any opportunities that school would have thrown to him.

His formative years spent at Gordonstoun, where many other male royals including Prince Charles and Prince Edward, shaped the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, say his family

His formative years spent at Gordonstoun, where many other male royals including Prince Charles and Prince Edward, shaped the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, say his family

His formative years spent at Gordonstoun, where many other male royals including Prince Charles and Prince Edward, shaped the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, say his family

Difficult start: Prince Charles said childhood hadn't been always a positive experience for his father, saying: 'My father didn't talk about it a lot. It couldn't have been easy. I mean, his sisters did tell me a little bit but it must have been very difficult.'

Difficult start: Prince Charles said childhood hadn't been always a positive experience for his father, saying: 'My father didn't talk about it a lot. It couldn't have been easy. I mean, his sisters did tell me a little bit but it must have been very difficult.'

Difficult start: Prince Charles said childhood hadn’t been always a positive experience for his father, saying: ‘My father didn’t talk about it a lot. It couldn’t have been easy. I mean, his sisters did tell me a little bit but it must have been very difficult.’

Prince Edward told the film's makers that the school had encouraged the Duke's sense of exploration, saying: 'The idea of being able to go off and do all sorts of adventures while you're at school and be able to build up those experiences - that would appeal to him.'

Prince Edward told the film's makers that the school had encouraged the Duke's sense of exploration, saying: 'The idea of being able to go off and do all sorts of adventures while you're at school and be able to build up those experiences - that would appeal to him.'

Prince Edward told the film’s makers that the school had encouraged the Duke’s sense of exploration, saying: ‘The idea of being able to go off and do all sorts of adventures while you’re at school and be able to build up those experiences – that would appeal to him.’

‘We went to Gordonstoun so he was always very engaged with how we were enjoying school.’

Revealing an insight into the Duke of Edinburgh’s interests during his time there, Prince Bernhard shared two letters in the Prince’s hand that were trying to persuade his grandfather, the Prince’s brother-in-law, to sell matches to the school’s barber.

The light-hearted letters read: ‘Dear Berthold, I hope I’m not disturbing you but I bring you quite good news. The hairdresser who comes to cut our hair heard about your matches from me and said he could order 5,000 of them.

The letters give you the Duke's character 'in a nutshell', says Prince Bernhard, pictured

The letters give you the Duke's character 'in a nutshell', says Prince Bernhard, pictured

The letters give you the Duke’s character ‘in a nutshell’, says Prince Bernhard, pictured

‘He would like to know if you could send him, all prices underlined, and I will give them to him when he comes.’

Prince Bernhard, who was born in Germany, and is the eldest son of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, and Archduchess Valerie of Austria, concludes: ‘[The letter] shows his sense of family, his curiosity, and his entrepreneurship. In a nutshell, it gives you the character of the Duke as a teenager.’ 

Lady Louise steps into the spotlight! Prince Edward’s daughter, 17, takes centre stage in Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers as she leads The Firm in paying tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh

Lady Louise Windsor took centre stage in a television documentary tonight as the teenager lead The Firm in paying tribute to her grandfather Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, which aired tonight at 9pm on BBC One, featured interviews from all of the Queen, 95, and Philip’s children – the Prince of Wales, 72, the Princess Royal, 71, the Duke of York, 61, and the Earl of Wessex, 57. 

The Duke’s adult grandchildren, the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, also provided their personal memories of the royal during the film. 

It marked the first time Lady Louise, 17, had taken part in such a film, and a step into the spotlight for the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.

Lady Louise Windsor, 17, took centre stage in a television documentary tonight the teenager lead The Firm in paying tribute to her grandfather Duke of Edinburgh

Lady Louise Windsor, 17, took centre stage in a television documentary tonight the teenager lead The Firm in paying tribute to her grandfather Duke of Edinburgh

Lady Louise Windsor, 17, took centre stage in a television documentary tonight the teenager lead The Firm in paying tribute to her grandfather Duke of Edinburgh

It marked the first time Lady Louise had taken part in such a film, and a step into the spotlight for the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex (pictured with her parents in the documentary)

It marked the first time Lady Louise had taken part in such a film, and a step into the spotlight for the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex (pictured with her parents in the documentary)

It marked the first time Lady Louise had taken part in such a film, and a step into the spotlight for the daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex (pictured with her parents in the documentary) 

During the film, she recalled her close bond with the Duke and their shared-love of carriage driving, as well as her decision to do the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. She confidently told the camera: ‘There was certainly an element of  making my grandfather proud and honouring him by taking part in the award that has been so much of his life’s work. I definitely hope I have made him proud.’

Interviews were filmed before and after Prince Philip’s death in April, and were conducted separately, with Prince Harry’s tribute filmed in the US where he lives having stepped back from royal duty.

During the film, the royals discussed the Duke of Edinburgh’s love for carriage driving, with Sophie saying: ‘My daughter has also got involved in carriage driving. it wasn’t something that was fousted on her. She showed an interest.’

Lady Louise, is a keen equestrian and, like her late grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, has competed in carriage-driving competitions.

The duke was synonymous with carriage-driving and had been designing the vehicles since the 1970s.

Reports have said Lady Louise inherited the carriage after the duke’s death, although this has not been confirmed by Buckingham Palace.

Source: Daily Mail

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