Despite fears about his health, Prince Philip carried out an impressive 578 official engagements in 2002, more than any other member of the royal family.
The 81-year-old made 33 more appearances than his wife, the Queen, and 17 more than Prince Charles. It was the first time in six years that Philip had undertaken more public outings than his spouse.
Although there have been a few famous gaffes - in March he asked Australian aborigines if they still threw spears at each other - the Duke of Edinburgh has once again demonstrated his fierce commitment to both his wife and the monarchy.
Tim O'Donovan, a retired insurance broker who publishes records of the royals' activities, said that Philip has demonstrated little interest in slowing down: "At 81 he shows no sign of adopting a more relaxed life, which must be a relief to the many organisations who enjoy his patronage, interest and enthusiasm."
Princess Anne, who was the busiest royal in 2001, came in at second place chalking up 569 engagements, down from 655 the previous year. The biggest year-on-year increase was recorded by Prince Edward, however, who more than doubled his official workload after quitting his TV career. The Earl of Wessex carried out 399 engagements over the course of the year, in comparison to just 189 in 2001.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
