The Duke of Edinburgh’s former school has released his report cards which say “he was naughty, but never nasty”.
Notes by Kurt Hahn, the school’s headmaster and founder, include details of an incident in which Philip nearly knocked over a woman who was pushing a pram.
The report from Gordonstoun, in Moray, was written for the duke’s marriage to Princess Elizabeth in 1947. It says that the young prince had been sent to Gordonstoun after it was noticed that “whenever the Nazi salute was given he roared with laughter” and “attracted universal attention”.
“After he had been admonished to caution, he continued to be doubled up in uncontrollable mirth,” it says. “He no longer roared but nevertheless attracted universal attention. ‘We thought it better for him and also for us if he returned to England right away,’ said his sister who brought him to Gordonstoun.”
Hahn was asked to write a record of Philip’s school career a few weeks before his engagement. It covers the years from 1934-39, when Philip left for the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth.
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“He had grown impatient of what for short may be called royalty nonsense,” Hahn said. “After matches and theatrical performances, people often asked him for an autograph. He found this ridiculous and on one occasion signed himself ‘the Earl of Baldwin’, to the bewilderment of the autograph hunter.”
Philip found things easy, which could lead to displays of “intolerance and impatience”, Hahn said. “When he was in the middle school, he got into a fair number of scrapes through recklessness and wildness. He was often naughty, never nasty.” He also showed “an ease and forthrightness in dealing with . . . all kinds.” When he went to Gordonstoun “his marked trait was his undefeatable spirit, he felt deeply both joy and sadness, and the way he looked and the way he moved indicated what he felt”. Philip had “meticulous attention to detail” and was “never content with mediocre results”.
But while he was cycling one day he needed all his charm, the report says. “He was in the habit of cycling regardless of safety rules, and on one occasion he avoided a clash with a baby in a perambulator by inches, thanks to his unusual agility: he appeased the mother by an apology which was irresistible.”
Hahn was also the driving force behind the Outward Bound movement.
He had opened the school in the north of Scotland where access to the Highlands and coastline provided the ideal opportunity to build character outside the classroom.
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Philip was a member of the Watchers, one of the school’s community services. He also developed his love of sailing and was captain of cricket and hockey.
In his final year he became head boy and took part in the Moray Badge, the inspiration for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The badge encouraged local children to experience elements of a Gordonstoun education and to achieve success in physical activities, outdoor pursuits and service to the community.
Philip regularly visited the school, most recently for a private visit in 2014 to mark the school’s 80th anniversary, and joined pupils in the queue for lunch, rather than taking a seat and having it brought to him.
In 2019 the duke announced that he was giving his name to a foundation at Gordonstoun to offer financial support to children from a variety of backgrounds. A third of students already receive financial assistance and the launch of the Prince Philip Gordonstoun Foundation aimed to increase this.
