Mystery of Prince Philip's fake 'wedding uniform'

Since the start of summer, visitors have flocked to see an exhibition celebrating the 60th wedding anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

But while the ivory silk dress decorated with crystals, seed pearls and with a 13ft train, is the real thing, the dark blue uniform standing alongside it has never been worn by Prince Philip.

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Indeed, the plaque next to the display case bears the simple statement: Uniform of lieutenant of the Royal Navy.

There is no mention of the jacket and trousers having belonged to the Prince although the uniform does bear his medal ribbons and decorations, including the Star of the Order of the Garter and the Star of the Greek Order of the Redeemer.

When The Mail on Sunday asked an attendant if the uniform was the one worn by the Duke on his wedding day the reply was an uncertain: "As far as I know, yes".

But the Royal Collection website boasts: "For the first time since the wedding day, the outfits worn by the principal members of the wedding party have been brought together."

It adds that the display includes "the uniforms worn by King George VI and the Duke of Edinburgh".

To most tourists taking the £15 tour of the State Rooms, there is nothing to firmly indicate that the uniform standing next to the Queen's dress is anything but the clothing worn by Prince Philip on his wedding day on November 20, 1947.

Following the wedding, the Duke continued in the senior service until the death of George VI saw him taking on more Royal duties and abandoning his naval career.

It is understood he continued using his wedding uniform for the remainder of his naval service and the outfit is thought to be still in his possession.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Collection said: "On the day of the wedding the Duke of Edinburgh wore a standard issue uniform of a lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

"As His Royal Highness was subsequently promoted, the uniform was altered to reflect his change in rank.

"In the exhibition it states clearly that the Queen's and her bridesmaids' dresses were worn on the day.

"By the Duke's outfit it does not claim to be his original uniform. The public are aware that it is not a uniform worn on the day."

The uniform currently on display was supplied by the Royal Navy at the request of the Royal Collection.

The spokeswoman added: "If we had the real uniform it would not look like it had done on the wedding day. As far as we're aware, the original is still in Prince's possession."