Author Craig Brown shares the all-too-familiar feeling of discovering something significant just after finishing a book. His latest work, A Voyage Around the Queen, is set to be released next week. This book offers a deep dive into various facets of Queen Elizabeth II’s life, from her love of corgis, horses, and jigsaws to her interactions with world leaders like Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
One chapter zeroes in on Prince Philip, exploring whether his blunt remarks to strangers were signs of rudeness or attempts at friendly conversation. Brown recalls moments that left people questioning the prince’s intentions. For instance, during a visit to Paris in 1957, as crowds cheered, Prince Philip turned to the French Minister of the Interior and remarked, “Wasn’t it too bad you sent your royal family to the guillotine?”
In his memoir, Tony Blair recounts an encounter between Prince Philip and a Labour MP at a Buckingham Palace reception in 1997. When asked where she represented, the MP replied, “Stoke,” to which Philip responded, “Ghastly place, isn’t it?”
While these remarks were often labeled as “gaffes” by the press, some of Prince Philip’s friends argued that he was simply trying to break the ice, hoping for a lively conversation. Gyles Brandreth, in his joint biography of the Queen and Prince Philip, suggests that while the Queen might have struggled with small talk, Philip was always there to keep things lively, often by playing devil’s advocate.
By chance, Brown recently stumbled upon a new book of collected poems by Roger McGough. The collection spans McGough’s work from 1959 to the present and is filled with both moving and humorous pieces. McGough, known for his short, impactful verses, also shares anecdotes of his encounters with famous figures, including Bob Dylan, the Gallagher brothers, and Jimi Hendrix.
One particularly intriguing poem in McGough’s collection, titled Reciting Poetry to Prince Philip, recalls the Queen’s 80th birthday party at Buckingham Palace in 2006. McGough was first introduced to the Queen, who gave a brief “Very good” before moving on to chat with Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear.
Next in line was Prince Philip, who, with his hands behind his back, inquired about McGough’s current work. McGough mentioned that he had just written a verse for a TV documentary about the foetus in the womb. He proceeded to recite the poem titled The Foetus Dreams:
“What do I dream of? I dream my mother’s dreams
I dream of being held as I breathe her breath
Of holding her as I dance to her heartbeat
I dream about our future, what it might bring
I hear my mother crying, I hear her sing.”
As McGough finished, he opened his eyes to find Prince Philip staring at him as if he were deranged. The prince then muttered, “Sorry I bloody asked,” before swiftly moving on.