Why was Philip never a king? Upon marrying the Queen on November 20, 1947, Philip dropped his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark to become the Duke of Edinburgh. Instead of becoming the king of England, Philip became "Prince Consort". This is because the law of succession in Britain is based on gender and not bloodline. The parliamentary law means that when someone marries a King or Queen, they become known as a 'consort'. The titles can change depending on gender. King George VI, Princess Margaret, Lady Mary Cambridge, Elizabeth, Philip, Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Mother) and Queen Mary. (Getty Images)