Prince Philip, who is set to turn 98 in June, has become the oldest ever-male royal in British history, according to a new report.
Born in 1921, Philip is also the third longest-living British royal in history, only overtaken in life span by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester who died in 2004 aged 102, and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who died in 2002 aged 101.
The Duke, still sprightly in his late 90’s, also holds the record as the longest-serving consort in British history. Beginning his duties in 1952 when his young wife Princess Elizabeth became Queen, the impressive Duke only retired from public duties when he turned 96 in 2017.
This follows reports that the Prince is an avid follower of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s rigorous regime of short and intense exercises called the 5BX plan.
The plan, which doesn’t require a large space or any specialist equipment, uses five basic exercises within 11 minutes to strengthen each of the body’s muscles.
Though the regime progresses through various levels of difficulty, the five exercises remain the same: stretching, sit-ups, back extension, push-ups and running in place.
Philip is reportedly adamant that he never lets himself go, doubtless a self-discipline picked up from his time spent serving as a Commander in the Royal Navy.
MORE:The fundamental difference between the Queen and Prince Philip
"He is a man who has always looked after himself and taken care of his body. He's someone who enjoys physical activity and he's incredibly physically fit. He's very careful about what he eats. If he puts on any weight at all, he will make sure he loses it,” Ingrid Seward, editor of the royal insider magazine Majesty, said of the Prince on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
Eight years later, the Duke is just as active, spending much of his retirement enjoying the outdoors of Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The no-nonsense Duke, whose bluntness has gotten him into trouble in the past, is reported to prefer walking and taking the stairs where possible to keep his fitness levels up.
We can’t help wondering what the daily step count on his Fitbit might be?
Words by: Kate McCusker
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