Did Prince Philip Ever See Mike Parker Again After Parker Left His Employ?

It doesn't have long in The Crown's 2nd flavour before Prince Philip'south 1956 tour aboard the Britannia—a royal yacht that, according to the Netflix series, doubled during those debauched months as a beer-swilling bachelor party —combusts. It isn't Philip's fault, though.

Instead, it is the doing of his best friend and equerry Michael Parker (played on the series by Daniel Ings)—who couldn't assistance but boast nigh all of the extramarital carousing going on in messages sent to Philip and Michael's Thursday Club. (These letters seem to be a fictional flourish by The Crown creator Peter Morgan.) A few episodes in, Parker's fed-upward wife Eileen (played by Chloe Pirrie) 86-es their marriage, in spite of pleas past the purple family unit's fixers—giving way to a scandal spectaculaire that required Michael to resign and inspired the Palace to upshot a rare statement on the queen's marriage: "Information technology is quite untrue that there is whatever rift between the Queen and the Duke."

Michael and Philip's friendship dates back to 1942, when the two were young lieutenants on destroyers in World War II. V years later, in 1947, later marrying Elizabeth and moving into Clarence House, Philip appointed the Australian-born Michael to exist his equerry. Michael, being a vital link back to Philip'due south Navy days, helped ease Philip's transition into life as a public figure. Ironically, though, according to a February 1957 written report by The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael could not exercise the same for his own wife—who had a hard fourth dimension adjusting to being Palace-adjacent.

"[Eileen] is a 'twin-set up-and-tweed-brim'— girl. She likes ballet, the opera, and horce-racing. She never took reward of all the opportunities she had for being on the fringe of the Court. Non so her husband. For him everything was back to the happy days he had spent in the Service . . . with a divergence. Now he was on familiar terms with the most famous and entertaining people in the land."

"Non that he ever escaped unscathed. He and the Knuckles spent much time leaping on rugs and skidding downwards the highly polished Palace corridors. This went on until one day they crashed into the door of the King'due south study. For this they were sternly rebuked. " [. . .]

The Knuckles took him completely under his wing. He introduced him to all his friends. He made him a fellow member of the Th Club, a very sectional luncheon party of men with bright ideas. Sometimes at night the pair would sideslip out of the Palace for an evening with other purple acquaintances. The royal staff soon got used to these expeditions. "Murgatroyd and Winterbottom," they would say, "take popped out for a stroll."

This became a catchphrase.

(The Sydney Morning Herald noted that Michael had sent at least one missive from Africa—a postcard to one of his friends showing "a collection of Africans running." In reference to the Palace'southward press officer, Parker wrote on the dorsum of the postcard: "They've just seen Colville.")

It was February of 1957, a decade subsequently condign Philip's equerry, when Michael resigned aboard the Britannia, as is re-created on The Crown'south second season.

"Parker resigned as the Prince's private secretary concluding February iv, just 24 hours after word leaked out that he and his married woman had separated," reported the A.P. in 1957. "His resignation rocked Palace courtroom circles. Parker was aboard the imperial yacht Britannia with the Queen's husband when Parker's lawyer announced his resignation."

"Parker's marital troubles ready off rumors early on this year of a rift between Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth Ii. Buckingham Palace denied the rumors," the study connected. "A leading British newspaper said early this week Buckingham Palace officials were worried almost 'detailed evidence' that might emerge in a Parker divorce case."

Just 2 weeks after Parker'due south resignation, every bit is shown in the very kickoff scene of The Crown'due south 2d flavour, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip reunited in Portugal during a stormy evening aboard the Britannia. According to the A.P.:

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh came aground grin for social rounds today afterwards a rock 'north' roll night aboard the gale-tossed yacht Britannia.

Reunited subsequently a separation of more than four months, they had been pitched about as loftier winds whistled over the yacht and waves sank a dozen small-scale fishing boats of the villagers. [. . .] Elizabeth was smiling but pale upon landing. The Duke was his swaggering cocky.

Their 20 hours together afterwards a reunion yesterday, the Duke having returned from a 35,000 mile bout, gave them their first opportunity to discuss events that led to reports of a imperial rift.

Buckingham Palace had quickly and positively denied there was trouble betwixt the Queen and the human being she married nine years ago. Gossip persisted, withal, and the royal couple must be aware of information technology. The privacy of their royal cabins last night would have given them a run a risk to talk nigh it.

In the very same paper, information technology was likewise announced that The People, a leading Sunday newspaper, had advised Elisabeth to essentially give her husband a promotion, making him her prince consort—"as one way of keeping him busy at home." The paper argued that otherwise, the Duke was "a man without a real job . . . Until he is given one, he will e'er exist tempted to seek out for himself a existent job of piece of work and go off on extended goodwill trips around the Commonwealth."

The following month, in March of 1957, the New York News-Chicago Tribune Dispatch reported that Philip had been promoted to prince, but for less gallant reasons.

The Duke of Edinburgh's promotion to prince of the realm was rushed through terminal month to prevent him from beingness subpoenaed to prove in a divorce trial.

Queen Elizabeth's ultra-conservative advisers, who had previously urged caution on the promotion, suddenly swung behind the move after learning of the danger.

They had learned that Eileen Parker, 34, plans to divorce her estranged husband Lt. Comdr. Michael Parker, 36, who was forced to resign last month as the Duke of Edinburgh's private secretary.

Despite his title as duke and first admirer in the land, Philip could have been subpoenaed to testify for Mrs. Parker until his elevation to prince on Feb 22 lifted him beyond the range of a subpoena.

The same newspaper alleges that, even before news of the Parkers' separation, "the queen's advisers had been gunning for [Michael] anyway as a means of curbing Philip's fondness for available parties and bohemian friends."

Equally Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were navigating their own P.R. nightmare, the International News Service reported in February 1957 that "Mrs. Eileen Parker has received a flood of poisonous substance pen letters" which "accuse her of timing the news of her separation as a vindictive act against her husband."

The following year, in March 1958, Eileen Parker was finally granted her divorce. The Wilmington Morning News reported that Eileen took the stand herself during the 15-minute trial, as well every bit "a housekeeper in the bachelor apartment kept by Parker in Maverick Chelsea" who provided a witness account. "The estimate'due south verdict was that Parker committed infidelity with Mrs. Thompson there last July, half dozen months after he resigned his royal chore," the paper reported.

Reuters additionally name-checked "the other adult female"—Mrs. Mary Alexandra Thompson—and reported that "the custody of the Parker children, Michael, xiii, and Julie, 9, was awarded to Mrs. Parker."

The Sydney Morning Herald added that Parker, who had filed for divorce five months before, attended the hearing in "a heather mixture suit and black accessories and a pearl rose brooch." Upon leaving, she said, 'I am very glad it's all over. I now hope to disappear from the public eye and live quietly.'"

In spite of that statement, Eileen Parker went on to publish a 1982 tell-all memoir titled Pace Aside for Royalty. Although it is out of print, a rare copy tin can be found on Amazon—for over $2,700.

---

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip'south Seven-Decade Marriage, in Photos

• 

• 

• 

Past Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

1947

Elizabeth, who was a princess at the time, met Philip, who went by Philip Mountbatten, in 1934 at a nuptials. A few years later, in 1939, she was on a tour of the Royal Naval College (she was 13 and he was 18), and they began exchanging letters. They were secretly engaged in 1946. King George VI ordered that the formal engagement exist delayed until after Elizabeth'due south 21st birthday in April 1947. Their engagement was announced in July that year.

---

pedersonagaitind.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/queen-elizabeth-prince-philip-affair-eileen-parker-the-crown-netflix

Share this post