Magazine honour for Duke of Edinburgh, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in June
Despite being an admiral, field marshal, air commodore and a god in parts of Vanuatu, the Duke of Edinburgh – rapidly approaching his 90th birthday on 10 June – is not above still accepting the odd award. This time it's Consort of the Year, from the the Oldie magazine – though he won't be turning up to a luncheon at Simpson's in the Strand to accept it.
In a handwritten note from Sandringham, the duke has told the magazine: "There is nothing like it for morale, to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all."
With what sounds almost like a sigh of relief, he adds that he cannot come to receive the award as "I will not be conveniently in reach of London at the time."
The duke and the Queen normally spend this time of year at Sandringham, their Norfolk home.
Meanwhile, the Royal Collection has published for the first time three photographs of the duke at a rather earlier age: in his mother's arms as a very young baby in 1921, the following year as a chortling toddler, hauling himself up against a little table – a picture taken shortly before the family fled from Greece – and a portrait taken when he was 12 at Cheam prep school in 1933.
The pictures, from the duke's private collection, form the centrepiece of an exhibition of memorabilia, including the duke's own paintings, at Windsor Castle all this year.
Previous recipients of the Oldie's accolade include Joanna Lumley, David Attenborough and Ranulph Fiennes.