there were rumours of a rift in the marriage, rumours which were flatly rejected by the palace. it it the 18th we are due back now? by the 1960s, philip had created the template for his role as consort. he focused on issues which interested him. he was an early champion of the need to conserve nature, and he created the scheme which is named after him, the duke of edinburgh award, encouraging young people to realise their potential. give young people a chance to discover their own abilities for themselves as an introduction to the responsibilities and interests of the grown—up world, and incidentally, to make new friends and have a great deal of fun and satisfaction in the process. no decade was more difficult for the royal family than the 1990s. the death of diana, princess of wales, was both a family tragedy and a moment of tension for the monarchy. it was the queen to whom the country looked for public comfort. it was philip to whom the queen