Prince Philip of Britain, who died on Friday, was considered a local by Corfu residents, as he was born and baptised on the Greek island.
The late Duke of Edinburgh and future husband of Queen Elizabeth II was born at Mon Repos Palace on May 28, 1921 (old calendar). He was baptised at the Church of St. George at the Old Fortress of Corfu on October 24 of the same year, archaeologist and head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corfu Tenia Rigakou told Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
His godparent was in the town of Corfu, as represented by then mayor Alexandros Kokotos and Princess Olga, daughter of Prince Nicholas.
As a two-year-old, he was whisked away from Greece when the government changed in 1922 and his father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark was condemned to death and saved by British intervention.
Although Philip never returned to Corfu, members of the royal family have kept close ties to the island, visiting it over several summers. The last time was when his son, Prince Charles of Wales paid a private visit with his wife, Duchess of Cornwall Camilla, in July 2019.
The royal family is traditionally hosted by the Rothschild family at their villa in Kerassia.
President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her condolences over the death of Britain’s Prince Philip in a post on social media on Friday.
On Twitter, Sakellaropoulou wrote in English: “The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu, served his country with devotion for many decades. I extend my warm condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the members of the Royal Family and the British people.”
Her post was accompanied by a photograph of Prince Philip as a child wearing Evzone attire.
