In September 1993, this Royal story was told by Georges Hartmeyer, one of Belgians deans in ice hockey, former player and member of the board of Brussels.
One day, Prince Philip couldn't have been much older that twelve, the secretary of Her Majesty Queen Paola called us for an appointment. And so it happened that one afternoon myself, Georges Arnould and Guy Balasse of Brussels IHSC drove up to Castle Belvedère where we were to be received by, in those days, Princess Paola Ruffo di Calabria. During tea she posed many a question with regard to ice hockey in general and the weal and woe of Brussels in particular. For obvious reasons, as any concerned mother would do, she was looking to find the perfect sport for her son to play. At a certain point our present Queen asked me; "Ice hockey isn't an expensive sport, now is it?" to which I replied respectfully; "the club can put equipment at your disposal, your Majesty". That was the first and last we ever heard with regards to the ice hockey aspirations of our Prince Philip.