Eileen Parker, the former wife of Prince Philip’s private secretary, Mike Parker, passed away in 2021. She was known for her divorce from Mike Parker in 1958, which was a significant event due to the close connection with the British royal family.
Eileen Parker’s marriage to Mike Parker began in 1943 and ended in a widely publicized divorce in 1958. The divorce was notable because it occurred at a time when divorce was less common and more stigmatized, especially among the circles close to the monarchy. Mike Parker was a close friend and private secretary to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, which added to the public interest in the case.
The Parkers’ divorce was one of the first to be discussed in the context of the royal household, and it raised questions about the impact of royal duties on family life. Eileen Parker cited Mike’s absences and alleged infidelity as reasons for the divorce. The case was settled out of court, and Eileen received a financial settlement.
After the divorce, Eileen Parker lived a relatively private life, avoiding the spotlight. Her passing in 2021 marked the end of a life that had inadvertently intersected with British royal history, leaving behind a legacy of challenging the norms of her time. Her story gained renewed interest with the portrayal of her character in the popular Netflix series “The Crown,” which dramatized the events surrounding the royal family during the mid-20th century.