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How Prince Philip Spent His 90th Birthday

Prince Philip

In addition to both a 41- and 62-gun salute, his image printed on a Royal Mint coin, and the Band of the Irish Guards playing "Happy Birthday" outside Buckingham Palace, Prince Philip (aka Prince William's grandfather) had quite the enjoyable 90th birthday.

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For one, The Prince of Edinburgh earned a new title Friday: Lord High Admiral of the Navy, which used to be held by his wife, Queen Elizabeth, 85. The awarding of the title by the Queen was a nod to Prince Philip's years as a prominent naval officer for the Royal Navy, a post which he left to be at his wife's side when she took the throne in 1953. Across the pond, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed the prince an honorary admiral and general in the Canadian Armed Forces, according to the Associated Press.

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At a lunch he was hosting for the charity Action on Hearing Loss in London, the prince was gifted with a pair of ear defenders to use when he goes shooting. Well-known for his humor and sometimes offensive controversial wit, he asked, "Can you get Radio 3 on this?"

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The gift, however, also recognizes Philip's old age.

The AP recounts a television interview Prince Philip gave to mark his milestone birthday, where he said he was nearing his "sell-by date."

"I reckon I've done my bit. I want to enjoy myself for a bit now. With less responsibility, less rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say," he said in the interview. "On top of that your memory's going, I can't remember names. Yes, I'm just sort of winding down."

So will the royal be having cake on his birthday? Better grab the balloons — reports are saying that the royal family will hold a private party for the prince at Windsor Castle.

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