Vanuatuan Villages Mourn Prince Philip's Death

Villages on the small Pacific island of Tanna, Vanuatu, have received uncharacteristic media attention following the passing of Prince Philip. Several Vanuatuan tribes revere Prince Philip, claiming that he was actually born on Tanna. Native lore considers Philip the pale son of a mountain spirit who left Vanuatu so to seek fortune and marry the woman at the heart of the British Empire, the Queen.

Anthropologist Kirk Huffman, who has studied the Tanna tribes since 1970, describes the Prince’s motives from the perspective of Tanna natives: “He was trying to bring peace and respect for tradition to England and other parts of the world. If he was successful, then he could return to Tanna—though one thing preventing him was white people's stupidity, jealousy, greed, and perpetual fighting.”

Scholars believe that the Prince Philip Movement began sometime in the 1960s, although the Prince’s first visit to Vanuatu in 1974 provided it significant momentum. 

At the time, the group of islands remained a colonial outpost known as the New Hebrides. Prince Philip never did travel to the tropical island of Tanna, however, he publicly acknowledged his role in the Tanna religious movement, which started a gift exchange with Tanna tribes. The tribes treasure the framed pictures of Prince Philip that they received during this exchange. 

In 2007, several Tanna villagers flew to the U.K. in order to film part of the television series “Meet the Natives,” and village leaders finally met Prince Philip in person. 

The chiefs exchanged gifts with him and asked when he would return to Tanna. The Prince responded by saying, “When it turns warm, I will send a message,” and the tribesmen happily accepted the cryptic answer.

Prince Philip often faced criticism for charges of cultural insensitivity, though most researchers agree that his relationship with the Tanna tribes stood on a foundation of mutual respect. 

Having only received word of his death in recent days, the entire island has taken part in Vanuatu’s traditional 100-day mourning rite. Villages paid respect to the Duke of Edinburgh by holding processions and performing sacred dances. 

Though Prince Philip’s failure to return to the island left many villagers distraught, they found solace in the idea that his spirit would return and fulfill his promise. 

Village leaders have also recently held meetings to decide who will succeed King Philip as the next incarnation of “kastom,” the cultural values of the Tanna tribes. Because Philip’s son, Prince Charles, visited the island in 2018 and was anointed as an honorary chief, most observers assume that he will succeed his father and inherit the great spirit.