File photo dated 26/12/49 of The Duke of Edinburgh and Captain John Edwin Home McBeath DSO, DSC, RN (left), pose with Queen Elizabeth II for a photograph on HMS Chequers, during the Boxing Day visit to the destroyer that the Duke is currently serving on. Philip joined the Navy after leaving school and in May 1939 enrolled at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he was singled out as best cadet. He rose rapidly through the ranks, earning promotion after promotion, but his life was to take a very different course. The duke's flourishing naval career came to a premature end in 1951. Philip stepped down from his active role in the forces to fulfil his duty as consort. Issue date: Friday April 4, 2021.