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Mike Parker, equerry to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
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Mike Parker, equerry to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Lieutenant-Commander John Michael Avison Parker, CVO, AM (23 June 1920 29 December 2001), Australian who served as an officer of the Royal Navy (RN), and as Private Secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1947 and 1957.
Michael Parker
CVO AM
Private Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh
In office
19471957
Succeeded by
James Orr
Personal details
Born
23 June 1920
Melbourne, Australia
Died
29 December 2001 (aged 81)
Nationality
Australian
Spouse(s)
Eileen Allan
(m. 1943; div. 1958)
Carol Thompson (m. 1962; div.)
Jean Ramsay (m. 1976)
Children
Four
Education
Xavier College
Military service
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Branch/service
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Navy
Years of service
19381947
Rank
Lieutenant-Commander
Unit
HMS Lauderdale
HMS Wessex
HMS Wallace
Battles/wars
Second World War
Lieutenant-Commander John Michael Avison Parker, CVO, AM (23 June 1920 29 December 2001) Australian who served as an officer of the Royal Navy (RN), and as Private Secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1947 and 1957.
Michael Parker
CVO AM
Private Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh
In office
19471957
Succeeded by
James Orr
Personal details
Born
23 June 1920
Melbourne, Australia
Died
29 December 2001 (aged 81)
Nationality
Australian
Spouse(s)
Eileen Allan
(m. 1943; div. 1958)
Carol Thompson (m. 1962; div.)
Jean Ramsay (m. 1976)
Children
Four
Education
Xavier College
Military service
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Branch/service
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Navy
Years of service
19381947
Rank
Lieutenant-Commander
Unit
HMS Lauderdale
HMS Wessex
HMS Wallace
Battles/wars
Second World War
Lieutenant-Commander John Michael Avison Parker (1920 2001), Australian who served as an officer of the Royal Navy (RN), and as Private Secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1947 and 1957. Accompanied the Duke and the future Queen on their royal tour in 1952 and broke the news of the Kings death to them in Kenya. Accompanied the Duke on 1956 tour and resigned after divorce from his first wife.
Michael Parker
CVO AM
Private Secretary to The Duke of Edinburgh
In office
19471957
Succeeded by
James Orr
Personal details
Born
23 June 1920
Melbourne, Australia
Died
29 December 2001 (aged 81)
Nationality
Australian
Spouse(s)
Eileen Allan
(m. 1943; div. 1958)
Carol Thompson (m. 1962; div.)
Jean Ramsay (m. 1976)
Children
Four
Education
Xavier College
Military service
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Branch/service
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Navy
Years of service
19381947
Rank
Lieutenant-Commander
Unit
HMS Lauderdale
HMS Wessex
HMS Wallace
Battles/wars
Second World War
Lieutenant-Commander John Michael Avison Parker, CVO, AM (23 June 1920 29 December 2001) was an Australian who served as an officer of the Royal Navy (RN), and as Private Secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, between 1947 and 1957.
1948
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Courtier Edinburgh Equerry Friend Lieut Lieutenant Michael Mike Oct19 Parker Philip Private Secretary
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EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Michael Parker: A Distinguished Australian Officer and Private Secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1947-1957) Lieutenant-Commander John Michael Avison Parker, CVO, AM (23 June 1920 – 29 December 2001) was an Australian who made significant contributions to both the Royal Navy and as a trusted confidant to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Parker served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1938 to 1947, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Commander and serving aboard HMS Lauderdale, HMS Wessex, and HMS Wallace during World War II. In 1947, Parker joined the household of the Duke of Edinburgh as his Private Secretary, a role he held until 1957. During this time, he accompanied the Duke and the future Queen Elizabeth II on their royal tour in 1952 and broke the news of King George VI's death to them in Kenya. Parker also accompanied the Duke on his 1956 tour and resigned after his divorce from his first wife, Eileen Allan. Born on 23 June 1920, Parker was educated at Xavier College in Melbourne. He was a decorated officer, receiving the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) and Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to the monarchy. Parker married three times, first to Eileen Allan in 1943, then to Carol Thompson in 1962, and finally to Jean Ramsay in 1976. Together, they had four children. This photograph captures the distinguished and dedicated career of Michael Parker, an Australian who served his country and the British monarchy with honor and loyalty.
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