Take a look inside Prince Philip's birthplace, a 19th-century Greek island villa that is now an archaeological museum

Talia LakritzApr 15, 2021, 01:22 IST

Mon Repos.Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth, died at the age of 99.
He was born on the dining table at Mon Repos, a villa that belonged to Greek royals, in 1921.
The villa is now an archaeological museum and contains a plaque marking Prince Phillip's birthplace.

Prince Philip was born a royal of Greece and Denmark at the Mon Repos villa on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921.

Mon Repos from above. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Mon Repos, which means "my rest," is situated on the coast of the Ionian Sea.

Philip was born on the villa's dining room table, according to Reuters. He only lived there for a year — political instability amid the Greco-Turkish War caused the King of Greece, Constantine I, to abdicate the throne, and Prince Andrew and Princess Alice were forced to leave Corfu with their family in December 1922.

Mon Repos, which means my rest, is situated on the coast of the Ionian Sea.

The villa was built in 1826 by British Commissioner Frederic Adams as a gift for his wife, Nina Palatianou.

A view of Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Mon Repos became a summer residence for British governors until 1864, when the Ionian Islands became part of Greece and it was gifted to King George I of Greece.

During World War II, the Italian governor of the Ionian Islands resided there.

A view of the interior of Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Italy occupied the island of Corfu during World War II.

When Greece abolished its monarchy in 1975, the government and the former royal family disputed the ownership of the property.

Inside Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Mon Repos belonged to the government, and awarded $7 million to the former King Constantine of Greece to compensate him for his lost properties.

Mon Repos now operates as a small museum under the municipality of Corfu.

Art on display at Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

The Paleopolis Archaeological Museum exhibits feature sculptures, statues, coins, and other artifacts from the ancient city.

The gardens surrounding the house have been turned into a park featuring ancient Corfu monuments and the remains of temples dedicated to Greek gods.

Mon Repos gardens. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Mon Repos is located near the Old Town of Corfu, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The villa was restored in the 1990s.

A room inside Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

It has previously fallen into disrepair.

Its neoclassical design is evident through both exterior and interior columns.

Columns inside Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Neoclassical architecture is known for its simple geometric forms and adornments like columns.

The villa features a plaque recognizing it as Philip's birthplace.

Prince Philip's birthplace. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

The plaque reads "Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born here in 1921."

Philip's father, Prince Andrew, was the younger brother of King Constantine I of Greece and the grandson of King Christian IX of Denmark. Because of his father's Greek and Danish roots, Philip was known as Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.

The plaque reads Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born here in 1921.

Philip isn't the only royal who was born there.

A sitting area in Mon Repos. Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters

Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark was born at Mon Repos in 1914, and Princess Alexia of Greece was born there in 1965.

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