Michael Parker

Biography

Michael Parker was a Lieutenant Commander in the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. He served as a Royal Navy officer during World War 2. He was a private secretary to to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, from 1947 to 1957. Crown- a real life inspired period drama has a recurring character based on the life of Michael Parker played by actor Daniel Ings.

Childhood

John Michael Avison Parker was born on 23rd June 1920 in Melbourne, Australia to C. A. Parker(Father)- a captain in the Royal Navy.

Education

He attended the Xavier College, a Roman Catholic college in Melbourne.

Death

Michael died on 4th January 2002 due to a combination of cancer, heart attack, Pneumonia and stroke.

Marriage

First Marriage

Michael Parker married Eileen Allan in1943 after a wartime romance. until they divorced in 1958, she sued him in court on adultery & negligence charges in 1956. The couple had two children, a son named- Michael Parker Jr. and a daughter named Julie. Eileen wrote an autobiographical book titled- 'Step Aside for Royalty' which covered the events of Michael & Duke's life.

In her book, Eileen wrote that Mike and Duke used to use Pseudonyms "Murgatroyd and Winterbottom" to gallivant out of the palace.

Second Marriage

Michael married Carol Thompson (daughter of Sir Ivo Thompson) in 1962, the couple had two children, a daughter and an adopted son before going separate ways.

Third Marriage

Michael remarried in 1976 to Jean Ramsay(shoe polish heiress), they remained married till his death in 2001.

Career

Royal Navy

Michael began his career with the Royal Australian Navy. His father was a captain in the Australian Navy, Mike wanted to make space for himself through his own merit and moved to England. He joined the Royal Navy(United Kingdom), he served in the Navy from 1938-1947, he reached the rank of lieutenant-commander.

Battle of Narvik

He fought the battle of Narvik, a naval battle in Ofotfjord, in the mountains of the north Norwegian town of Narvik. It lasted for three months from April-June 1940. It was part of the Norwegian Campaign of WW2. 

The battle was fought between The British Royal Army and the German Kriegsmarine. It was fought between Norwegian, French, British, Polish forces against the German mountain troops.

The German Kriegsmarine sailors, and German paratroopers from the 7th Air Division were defeated by the allied forces.

HMS Lauderdale (L95), HMS Wessex

Michael served as the first Lieutenant of HMS Lauderdale,a Hunt class destroyer in 1942. Later he worked as the First Lieutenant of HMS Wessex under Admiral Sir James Somerville, a W-class destroyer in the 27th Destroyer Flotilla. [2]

With Prince Philip

Michael met prince Philip (who was back then the Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) in 1942, it was the time Philip joined the destroyer Wallace as a sub-lieutenant, a position that Mike was already serving. The two became close quickly and good friends thereafter.

Image: Michael Parker with Prince Philips

They were highly competitive on the ship and it drew them together. They were on the same mission to Japan, where the Japanese surrendered in 1945. Parker was one of the attendants of Philip's stag night party at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

"We were highly competitive, we both wanted to show that we had the most efficient, cleanest and best ship and ship's company in the Navy. And instead of pushing us apart, it drew us closer." [2]

Michael served as a Private Secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh from 1947-1957. It initially started on part-time basis. It became premanent around 1952.

Consultant to Duchess of Edinburgh: Michael worked as a consulting officer to Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (Elizabeth 2, who went on to become The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1952)

After the marriage, he took charge of modernizing the palace with modern amenities like electric telephones, dishwashers.. [2]

Mike and Duke liked to enjoy themselves, once during the Royal Airforce manoeuvre over the Buckingham Palace, they phoned the airforce ministry, played an old tape of battle of Britain dogfight over the receiver and claimed one of the airforce pilot has gone rogue and is attacking the palace with guns and bombs [2]

Thursday Club: Mike Duke became members of the group called 'Thursday Club', it met for luncheon every Thursday in a private room at the Wheeler's restaurant in Old Compton Street in Soho. David Niven, Peter Ustinov and Patrick Campbell were the other members of the group. Iain Macleod, Kim Philby, Larry Adler were among those invited to attend

King George VI

Soon after Philip's marriage, Mike was appointed as Equerry-in-Waiting to the Royal couple. 

King Heorge VI grew fond of Mike, he would take him for shooting, instruct Mike personally about the ways of the court. King had even taken Mike's advice on the design of Royal Yacht Britannia.

He was the one who broke the news of death of King George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George) to the royal couple (they were stationed in Kenya)

He became the member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1953, and Commander (CVO) in 1957.

HMY Britannia: He accompanied the Duke of Edinburgh on his 1956 five-month world tour on Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia.

In the later years of his life, he would write to the Duke addressing him informally, starting with  "Dear Philip", and signing off with "Yours ever, Mike".

The Crown

Sony pictures created a historical drama series exclusively for Netflix based on Peter Morgan's film The Queen(2006). The TV series has Michael Parker in recurring episodes. The role of Mike Parker is played by Daniel Ings. The main cast of the Series includes- Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Vanessa Kirby, Eileen Atkins, Jeremy Northam among others.

Private Secretary- Resignation

Michael's divorce in 1958 got blown up in the media, to avoid it affect the reputation of the Duke & family he resigned from the post. James Orr succeeded him on the role. However, the Duke and Michael remained in contact throughout their lives.

Lockheed corporation: He worked for Lockheed corporation in Europe which eventually became Lockheed Martin the world renowned defense, security firm.

Leo Burnett Worldwide: He worked for some time at the American advertising company located in the Chicago- Leo Burnett Company, Inc.

Return to Australia

In the late 1960s, he returned to Australia. His contacts helped find right jobs in short time. He worked as the Chairman of Australian Dredging & General Services in the 1960s. He was also the director of Spoerry Australia, and also worked at Spacelift Australia.

He was also chairman of the Australian Plain English Foundation.

He worked as a patriarch of a family for a while before his health gave up.

Member of the Order of Australia

In recognition of his service to Education, through the Plain English speaking Award Scheme and to the community in general, he was appointed the a Member of the Order of Australia at the 1996 Australia Day Honours. 

Facts & Trivia

• He met Churchill during world war 2, Michael always held helicopters were the safest way for the Duke to travel, while Churchill disagreed.

Quotes

• The fact that he was a Prince didn't register with me. I gave him deference when it was official
• we had fun in North Africa, but never anything outrageous. We'd drink together and then we'd go and have a bloody good meal. There was always armfuls of girls.
• He looked as if you'd dropped half the world on him. (Prince Philip's reaction to the death news of King)

Sources

1. as
2. Telegraph coverage of Mike Parker
3.