11x why we like Prince Philip so much

Prince Philip used to say that he had no intention of living to a hundred. When he was 77, he already said that ‘certain parts of him were falling off’. Prince Philip is the most eccentric (and oldest!) royal of the British royal family, but his current hospital visit does not have the caption ‘in good spirits’, which always accompanied him otherwise. So it's a push and pull between the photographers hanging around on kitchen steps in front of King Edward VII hospital to catch a sign of life or no life first.

Latest ‘catch’: Prince Charles entering the hospital and leaving half an hour later with a tear on his cheek. Since I really don't feel like an in memoriam for Prince Philip, I thought: a list of facts might be fun. Here we go.

1. He doesn't like tea
Coffee Preferring coffee over tea is like swearing in church for the Brits. Still, Philip drinks coffee. Black, please.

2. Fought against his brothers-in-law
Philip was in the army during World War II and ‘fought’ against his brothers-in-law, as his sisters are married to high-ranking German military officers.

3. Philip and Elizabeth are family
Even through two bloodlines, they are ultimately connected to each other.

4. Fell in love with Philip at thirteen
That was Elizabeth. But she only married him when she was 21. And with a few bumps and dents here and there, they have been married for 76 years. Never has a couple of a regent been married this long.

5. 200 million ‘guests’ at their wedding
At least, 200 million people listened to the moment they said ‘I do’ to each other in Westminster Abbey.

6. Helicopter pilot
Philip is the first of the English royal family who can fly a helicopter.

7. Salary of £360,000
Since 1990, Philip has received an annual allowance of £360,000.

8. 5,000 flight hours
He achieved that when he turned seventy.

9. Philip is a painter
And he prefers oil paintings.

10. Poor chap
Although of royal descent (born into Greek and Danish royal families), Philip says that when he married he only had 12 pence in his bank account...

11. Not the subtlest

When he saw his firstborn, Prince Charles for the first time, he said: ‘He looks like a plum pudding.’ And that's why we like Prince Philip so much. We wish him all the best and it would be nice if he just hits a hundred, as long as he's in good spirits.