Philip Hunloke

The son of Captain Philip Perceval of the Royal Horse Guards, Sir Philip Hunloke took his new surname by Royal Decree in 1905 after it was a proviso in the last will and testament of Baronet Sir John Joseph Hunloke.

Philip Hunloke was one of the 5-man crew aboard the Duchess of Westminster-owned cutter Sorais that won the bronze medal in the 8-metre class at the 1908 Olympics. The most important role he had in the world of yacht racing, however, was that as master of the cutter Britannia, which was owned by his friend, King George V. Between 1913-35 Hunloke raced Britannia on 387 occasions and won 109 times. He was elected to the Yacht Racing Association (YRA) in 1892 and was vice-president for many years. From 1944 he was Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron and in 1936 they presented him with a silver model of Britannia in recognition of his services to them

Hunloke served in the South Africa War and World War I, reaching the rank of major. He held some very senior posts within the Royal Household and was a Groom-in-Waiting to George V between 1911-36, and later to Edward VIII, and an extra Groom-in-Waiting to George VI in 1937. Because of his close association with the Royal Family, he would often be seen taking the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret out sailing. The book “The King’s Sailing Master” by Douglas Dixon (1948) told the story of Hunloke’s life.

Sir Philip Hunloke died at a London hotel in 1947. His son Henry was a Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire between 1938-44.