Prince Philip the style icon: from Saville Row suits to Royal Navy chic, the ever-dapper Duke of Edinburgh always dressed to give Queen Elizabeth centre stage

Apr 13 , 2021

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrives at Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong in 1981, looking as immaculately dressed as ever. Photo: SCMP

The late prince was famous for verbal missteps but his sense of style was more sure, his blazers and jackets often connecting with his Royal Navy background

He was outfitted by London’s oldest and most famous tailors including Savile Row’s John Kent of Kent, Haste & Lachter, Gieves & Hawkes and shoemaker John Lobb

Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, who died last week aged 99, has quite rightly been honoured for his seven decades of service to the British crown, his distinguished naval record defending the United Kingdom against the Axis during World War II, and his efforts as a pioneering conservationist.

It is inarguable, however, that the Duke of Edinburgh’s legacy has been tarnished by the many inappropriate, insensitive and often, simply offensive remarks he made over the years. The Duke of Edinburgh openly acknowledged his expertise in what he called “dontopedalogy – the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it”, a discipline he said he had “practised for a good many years”.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary marking 70 years together in 2017. Photo: AFP

Those feet were generally clad in bespoke shoes or riding boots from John Lobb – the British shoemaker that has been catering to London’s great and good from a quaint storefront in St. James’, Mayfair, since 1866.

Whether the shoes had anything to do with it, in matters of style, Prince Philip never made a misstep. Partly, this was a result of his recognition that his “job” was to blend into the background, dressed in a subtle and etiquette-appropriate manner, allowing spouse Queen Elizabeth to shine. Partly, it was down to his impeccable choice of outfitters.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, wait for the carriage carrying Princess Eugenie of York and her husband Jack Brooksbank after their wedding ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, in October 2018. Photo: AFP

The tailor responsible for the lion’s share of the His Royal Highness’ garments was John Kent, who first began cutting garments for the Duke of Edinburgh in the 1960s, while working for Hawes & Curtis (which had also dressed his uncle, Lord Mountbatten). When Kent established a business of his own with Terry Haste, Prince Philip followed, remaining a patron of the shop now known as Kent, Haste and Lachter until his death.

“Steadfast and loyal his entire long life, the Duke of Edinburgh was equally faithful to his Savile Row tailor John Kent who holds the duke’s royal warrant and served him for half a century,” says James Sherwood, leading authority on British tailoring and author of Bespoke: The Men’s Style of Savile Row. He points out that the duke was honorary Admiral of the Fleet, and says, “As the tailor to the highest-ranking naval officers, Gieves & Hawkes also holds the duke’s royal warrant.”

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visit The Great Wall of China at Badaling outside Beijing in 1986. Photo: Getty Images

His naval affiliations richly informed the duke’s approach to dress, suggests top London tailor Steven Hitchcock, who has cut many garments for Prince Charles. “Prince Philip’s military background gave him a keen eye for style, detail and tradition,” Hitchcock says. “Working closely with a number of Savile Row bespoke tailors meant he could select the best combinations of fit and cloth for him to wear and enjoy.” In Hitchcock’s opinion, “Prince Philip was always immaculately dressed.”