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The Duke of Edinburgh is well-known for his tendency to make controversial comments and may just be one of the most controversial royals. Royal biographers Phil Dampier and Ashley Walton

write in “Prince Philip: A lifetime of Wit and Wisdom” that the Duke of Edinburgh’s breathtaking outbursts can also be found in his letters. The 2017 book – released just after Buckingham

Palace announced that Prince Philip was to retire from royal duties – reveals a collection of gaffes and gives context to some of Prince Philip’s most rude, controversial, and insightful

words.

It reveals that, in a letter addressed to Rennie Maudslay in 1970, Prince Philip described the royal courtier as a "silly little Whitehall twit".

The Duke of Edinburgh blasted: “You don’t trust me and I don’t trust you."

Mr Maudslay served in World War Two as an officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire on September 20, 1945, for his wartime services.

Between 1971 and 1981 he worked as Keeper of the Privy Purse and later served as Secretary of the Royal Victorian Order from 1971 to 1987 while, on January 1, 1973, Mr Maudslay was appointed

an Extra Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II.

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The reason behind Prince Philip’s letter to Mr Maudslay remains a secret.

The “Iron Duke” has not always enjoyed a good press, but his dedicated years of service, longevity and, his sense of humour have at least been appreciated by the media and the public.

Mr Dampier has been writing about the royal family for over 30 years while Mr Walton was royal correspondent at the Daily Express from 1979 to 1992.

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