Prince Philip's 96th Birthday: 10 Funniest Quotes To Celebrate The Duke Of Edinburgh's Birthday

Prince Philip will celebrate his 96th birthday Saturday -- almost a month after the Buckingham Palace announced that the royal family member will no longer be carrying out royal engagements from the autumn of this year. The Duke of Edinburgh has been the longest-serving consort to a British monarch and also the oldest-ever male member of the royal family.

Philip had a lonely childhood. He had the most "unorthodox childhood," with his mother in a psychiatric clinic and his exiled father mostly absent. In the absence of his parents, he was often sent to different relatives. Despite succession of family tragedies, Philip emerged as a capable man, according to the Telegraph.

Philip married the then Princess Elizabeth II in Nov. 1947, and has since preferred to stay in the background and support to his wife.

Read: 5 Quick Facts About Queen Elizabeth II And Prince Philip's Marriage

For decades, the Queen has been performing public duties including ceremonies, receptions and visits. She has also been patron of numerous charities, and has encouraged public and voluntary service. Weekly audiences with prime ministers have been held throughout her reign.

The Duke of Edinburgh abandoned his Royal Navy ambitions in order to take on more public duties and support the Queen. In 1956 he launched the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Philip is known to have added light-hearted moments to dull occasions. He has never been afraid to speak his mind and this has resulted, in numerous occasions, in controversies as well as a substantial amount of laughter, reports said.

Here are 10 of his funniest quotes of Prince Philip:

1. To the General Dental Council in 1960: “Dontopedalogy is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, which I’ve practised for many years.”

2. To Tom Jones after his Royal Variety Performance: "What do you gargle with, pebbles?".

3. During the 1981 recession: "Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed."

4. After accepting a small gift from a local woman in Kenya in 1984: "You are a woman, aren't you?"

4. To a British student in China, 1986: “If you stay here much longer, you’ll go home with slitty eyes.”

5. To a penniless student in 1998: “Why don’t you go and live in a hostel to save cash?”

6. To black politician Lord Taylor of Warwick in 1999: “And what exotic part of the world do you come from?”

7.To Elton John on his gold Aston Martin in 2001: “Oh, it’s you that owns that ghastly car, is it?”

8. At Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme in 2006. “Young people are the same as they always were. Just as ignorant.”

9. After hearing Former President Barack Obama had breakfast with leaders of the UK, China and Russia, 2010: “Can you tell the difference between them?”

10. Asking Cate Blanchett in 2008 to fix his DVD player because she worked "in the film industry,": “There’s a cord sticking out of the back. Might you tell me where it goes?”