Prince Philip 'roared with laughter' at Nazi salutes during school in Hitler's Germany, was moved to England
Prince Philip, who passed away at the age of 99 last week, was considered by his countrymen as an epitome of a man dedicated to his sense of duty toward his wife, the reigning British monarch, and toward the crown, but his youth was filled with naughtiness, so much so that he was forced to switch schools after he started laughing uncontrollably after seeing the Nazi salute being carried out at a German institute.
In 1933, the Duke of Edinburgh was sent to Schule Schloss Salem in Germany, which gave him the "advantage of saving school fees" because it was owned by the family of his brother-in-law, Berthold, Margrave of Baden. With the rise of Nazism in Germany, Salem's Jewish founder, Kurt Hahn, fled persecution and founded Gordonstoun School in Scotland, to which Philip moved after two terms at Salem.
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Habit of 'roaring with laugher' at Nazi salute
Hahn went on to become a mentor to the royal, and was asked to write about Philip's time at the school ahead of his wedding to the Queen. The report has now been published after the death of the duke with permission from Buckingham Palace, which originally planned to use it as part of his 100th birthday celebrations.
The reports state that Philip was sent to Gordonstoun due to his habit of "roaring with laugher" whenever anyone did a Nazi salute at his German school. Apparently, the gesture used at his old school reminded Philip of times when people needed to go to the toilet. The report states: “After he had been admonished to caution, he continued to be doubled up in uncontrollable mirth. He no longer roared, but nevertheless attracted universal attention. 'We thought it better for him and also for us if he returned to England right away,' said his sister who brought him to Gordonstoun.”
Philip's 'undefeatable spirit'
Philip stayed at Gordonstoun for five years, during which he became the head boy as well as a member of the school's community services - known as Watchers.
"When Philip came to Gordonstoun his marked trait was his undefeatable spirit, he felt deeply both joy and sadness, and the way he looked and the way he moved indicated what he felt. That even applied to the minor disappointments which are inevitable in a schoolboy's life. But for the most part, he enjoyed life, his laughter and created merriness around him. When he was in the middle-school he got into a fair number of scrapes through recklessness and wildness. He was often naughty, never nasty," Hahn wrote.
Hahn also commented on Philip's response and attitude towards being a prince of Greece, a title he held till he married the Queen. He wrote: "He had grown impatient of what for short may be called Royalty nonsense. After matches and theatrical performances, people often asked him for an autograph. He found this ridiculous and on one occasion signed himself 'The Earl of Baldwin',' to the bewilderment of the autograph-hunter."
Gordonstoun pays tribute to Prince Philip after death
Since he enjoyed his time at Gordonstoun, Philip insisted his own children followed in his footsteps at the Scottish school, which presently charges $55,000 a year. While Princess Anne was happy to fulfil her father's wishes, her older brother Prince Charles did not enjoy his time there, and his misery was featured in Netflix's hit series, 'The Crown.'
Commenting on Philip's death, the school's current principal Lisa Kerr said: "The Gordonstoun community joins together in conveying our sincerest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and all the Royal Family at this very sad time. He had an immensely strong character, combined with a unique sense of fun, infectious optimism and strong sense of duty. More than anything, he understood and was hugely supportive of Gordonstoun’s educational ethos, of not only fulfilling academic potential but also of developing life skills through experiences outside the classroom, including sailing and community service. We are immensely grateful for his support over the years and his presence and support in the school’s life will be sorely missed."