Here's Why Prince Philip Never Became King Despite Being Married To Queen Elizabeth II
Prince Philip was not given the title king of England during his wife Queen Elizabeth II's seven-decade reign due to longstanding royal rules.
Prince Philip -- who died at age 99 in 2021 -- renounced his royal title as prince of Greece and Denmark and became the Duke of Edinburgh after marrying then-Princess Elizabeth in November 1947.
When Queen Elizabeth ascended the British throne in 1952, Prince Philip was elevated to prince consort rather than king consort.
According to Reader's Digest, this is due to British Parliamentary law, which dictates that men who are married to the ruling monarch are not eligible to be named king or king consort.
There are different rules for men and women who marry into the royal family.
Unlike their female counterparts, men who marry into the royal family cannot take on the male form of their wife's title.
For example, Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, did not get a peerage when they tied the knot in 2018, according to Town & Country.
But Kate Middleton became Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan Markle gained the title Duchess of Sussex after marrying Prince William and Prince Harry, respectively.
This rule also applies to spouses of monarchs.
A ruling queen's husband -- like Prince Philip -- is referred to as a prince consort, while a ruling king's wife can receive the ceremonial title of queen or queen consort.
While queen can be a symbolic title, only the male monarch who inherits the throne and reigns can use the title king, Town & Country noted.
Queen Camilla became queen consort after her husband, King Charles, ascended the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in 2022 and was crowned alongside him the following year.
Princess Kate is also expected to be referred to as Queen Catherine when Prince William becomes king someday.
On the other hand, Prince Philip was not crowned alongside Queen Elizabeth during her coronation ceremony in 1953.
Queen Elizabeth later made him an official prince of the United Kingdom in 1957.
Prince Philip was the fifth consort to a ruling queen in British history, following King Philip II of Spain, William III, Prince George of Denmark and Prince Albert.
Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle in England on April 9, 2021, one month before his 100th birthday.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, 2022, just a few months after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.
