A polished debut: This is the dining room table Prince Philip was born on

A polished debut: This is the dining room table Philip was born on – and which has now been saved for posterity sitting in the boardroom of a shipping company in the City of London

  • Princess Alice of Battenberg gave birth to the future Duke of Edinburgh on June 10, 1921, in Mon Repos, Corfu
  • Birth records show she was medically advised to use a wooden table rather than a bed
  • Guy Hindley, a managing partner at shipbrokers Howe Robinson, said the company bought the table in 1980 

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It was an appropriately unusual start for a man who led such an extraordinary life.

And the dining room table on which Philip was born has been saved for posterity – sitting in the boardroom of a shipping company in the City of London.

Princess Alice of Battenberg gave birth to the future Duke of Edinburgh on June 10, 1921, in Mon Repos, the family home on the Greek island of Corfu.

It was an appropriately unusual start for a man who led such an extraordinary life. And the dining room table on which Philip was born has been saved for posterity – sitting in the boardroom of a shipping company in the City of London

Princess Alice of Battenberg gave birth to the future Duke of Edinburgh on June 10, 1921, in Mon Repos, the family home on the Greek island of Corfu. Above: Philip in 1922

The Duke in 2014

Princess Alice of Battenberg gave birth to the future Duke of Edinburgh on June 10, 1921, in Mon Repos, the family home on the Greek island of Corfu. Left: Philip in 1922. Right: The Duke in 2014

Birth records show she was medically advised to use a wooden table rather than a bed.

Guy Hindley, a managing partner at shipbrokers Howe Robinson, said the company bought the Queen Anne-style table in 1980.

He told the BBC: ‘When we look at old biographies, it talks about the doctor suggesting the bed was not somehow appropriate.

‘So she was carried downstairs and placed on the dining room table. I think it was made to be as comfortable as possible.’

Antique experts say the table is ‘nothing special’, but its value will be increased by its history.  

Antique experts say the table is 'nothing special', but its value will be increased by its history. Pictured: Philip with his mother

Antique experts say the table is ‘nothing special’, but its value will be increased by its history. Pictured: Philip with his mother 

At the time of his birth, the prince’s family were happily living in the royal household of Philip’s uncle King Constantine I.

However, Greece was gripped by political instability and just a year and a half later the family were forced to flee after the King was exiled from his own country following a military revolt.

The prince, who had four older sisters, travelled in an unused fruit box on British naval vessel HMS Calypso during the escape.

The Mon Repos house where Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born into on June, 10th, 1921, is seen on Corfu island

The Mon Repos house where Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born into on June, 10th, 1921, is seen on Corfu island