Growing frustrated with the lack of growth, Philip called in truffle experts from Italy to assist him. He finally succeeded in 2018, becoming, what is believed to be, the first person to successfully harvest black diamond truffles in Britain. The fungus sell at almost $90 an ounce, but the prince wasn’t in it for the cash. “From what I gather, none has been sold,” Adrian Cole, from Truffle UK, reported to The Times. “They have gone to the house or family.”
When he wasn’t busy breaking national truffle-growing records, Philip spent time at Balmoral, a Gothic Revival castle nestled on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Purchased by Prince Albert in 1852, the interiors boast marble fireplaces, a dark green aesthetic, floral drapes and walls of leather-bound books. Philip updated parts of the property’s staggering 50,000 acres of surrounding land, planting a vegetable garden, water garden and floral walkway. During summer trips to the estate, the prince would hunt, fish, and stalk deer. He’s thought to have the highest kill rate of game in the royal family, according to Express.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip fishing at Balmoral on the their 25th wedding anniversary.
Photo: Fox Photos/Getty ImagesThe prince’s love of hunting was so renowned that Edinburgh News noted he once received a silver tankard featuring etchings of Balmoral’s top deer-stalking spots. Known for his sometimes highly inappropriate one-liners, the prince reportedly remarked, “It’s unusual to get something useful.”
The Queen announced his death in a statement, saying in part, “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.” They were married for 73 years.