Sir Philip the Controversial

Prince Philip has been at the centre of plenty of controversy in his time what with his unerring ability to say things that get everyone else talking. But the nonagenarion consort woke up this morning at the centre of a row not of his making. The decision of Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, to make him a knight of the Order of Australia, has been met with fairly widespread chortling and not a lot of backslapping. The Duke of Edinburgh has become Sir Philip the Controversial without even trying.

Philip of Edinburgh has just become a knight of Australia

The honour was awarded to the duke to mark Australia Day. The title was reinstated last year by Tony Abbott and so far Philip is among five people to receive either a knighthood or damehood. But the other four are all Australians and that's where part of the controversy has started.

Controversy has been raining down on Prince Philip since it was announced he was to become a knight

Australia Day is all about celebrating Australia. It does exactly what it says on the tin. And that's why some critics have laid into the decision of Tony Abbott to hand over a knighthood to Philip. For some he just isn't a big enough part of their country. The Prime Minister of Australia said it was because the prince had been a 'great servant of Australia' and it was a way to 'properly acknowledge what he's done for us'. It is also in recognition of the way the Duke of Edinburgh Award has helped thousands of young people across Australia.

The Duke of Edinburgh with some winners of the Award that bears his name at a ceremony in London in 2014

Others weren't so sure with plenty of Twitter users asking if it was some kind of April Fool's Joke. Other politicians criticised the decision with the former Western Australia premier, Geoff Gallop, saying it was a sad reflection on the country while the leader of the Labour Party, Bill Shorten, said it had created a 'time warp'. And there were plenty of jokes right across social media at the decision to make Philip a knight.

Philip might well smiled at some of the jokes being made today about the knighthood he's been given by Australia

It's Tony Abbott who is fending off critics here not the prince and this may well be the last we hear of this award. But the decision to make Philip a knight has given critics of the Royal Family a field day. And turned the Duke of Edinburgh, briefly, into Sir Philip the Controversial.