LONDON - In a rare move by a man who appears to despise few activities more than speaking to the news media, Prince Philip recently agreed to cooperate in the making of a television documentary about his life.

Although "cooperate" might be too strong a word.

"Well, so what? You just get old," a testy Philip is shown barking at the hapless interviewer, Alan Titchmarsh, who has just mentioned an award the prince received from The Oldie magazine. Asked if it was hard to give up his naval career when his wife became queen, Philip snorts, "How long is a piece of string?"