Is Prince Philip a king

Answer 1

Philip is not the sovereign because he was not heir to the throne of England. He merely became the Consort - or husband - of the sovereign Queen. He could still have been styled King - known as a King Consort, who takes the title but does not rule - but Parliament and the Crown realised that giving him the title of King Consort would be unpopular with the British people for a variety of reasons. In the final analysis this was a political decision rather than one based on historical precedence. The principle reason for not giving Philip the title of King was that he is a foreigner and that this might cause confusion as to who was the sovereign. This is the same reason that Queen Victoria's husband, Albert, became Prince Consort rather than King Consort.

In the United Kingdom there is no automatic right of the consort of the queen to retain any title. This means, technically, Philip could be given any title, including King Consort or Prince Consort, or no title at all. Indeed he did not even receive the title of Prince Consort until 1957, even though the Queen began her reign in 1952.

There are a number of historical precedences which demonstrate that Philip could have become a King. In 1554, Mary I married Philip II of Spain and he became King of England by right of marriage. William of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands, became King of England on the invitation of Parliament partly because he was married to Mary Stuart, the deposed King's daughter. They reigned jointly as William & Mary.

Finally Mary, Queen of Scots, married Henry Darnley and he became King Consort of Scotland. But it is important to realise that if Philip had become King he would have been a King "Consort" (i.e. by right of marriage) and he would remain under the Queen, who as Queen Regnant (i.e. reigning) would remain the Sovereign. Why? Because the sovereignty of the Crown passes to the nearest blood relative and not by marriage. As King Consort if Philip survived the death of the Queen, he would not become sovereign but rather his son Charles would become King and a new title (similar to Queen Mother, perhaps "King Father"!) would have to be found. For although males takes precedence over females in succession the overriding factor is that Philip is not heir to the throne by blood.

Answer 2

No. The correct title is King of Scots. The last was George VI as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Present monarch is Elizabeth.

Answer 3

No, Prince Philip is not King of Scotland.

Answer 4

No, he is Greek, he was born in Corfu.