Philip Carteret Hill Primrose (October 23, 1864 – March 17, 1937) was a Canadian police officer and the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

Over the 30 years he spent with the NWMP, he was stationed at many locations throughout the North-West Territories, serving as Superintendent on four separate occasions before his retirement from the force in 1915.

Although he had never actively participated in politics, in 1936 Primrose was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, a position he held for only 167 days before he died after a long illness.

[7] During his time in the Yukon, the main role of the police was guarding people awaiting trials and prisoners serving sentences.

[10] After two months at Maple Creek, he took over the NWMP Macleod Department (today in Alberta) as Superintendent, serving there until 1913.

In August he was granted a leave of absence when he went to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester to undergo surgery to repair an undisclosed rupture and remove his appendix.

[10][11] During World War I, Primrose was the commanding officer of the Edmonton Reserve Battalion of the Canadian Army, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

[12] Although a Liberal by family heritage and disposition, Primrose never sought public office, or ever actively participated in politics.

Most of his duties were carried out by his wife, Lily, who hosted the 1937 New Year's Day reception at Government House, and served as an honorary officer of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Women's Auxiliary.

[12] On February 25, 1937, the Speech from the Throne was read by Horace Harvey, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alberta, due to Primrose's illness.

After being created a King's Counsel in 1951, Neil served as a Judge with the Supreme Court of Alberta in its Trial Division.

[15] Philip C. H. Primrose died on March 17, 1937, in Edmonton, while still occupying the office of Lieutenant Governor, a post he had held for only 167 days.

[14] On March 19, 1937, he lay in state for two hours in the main chamber of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in what was described as one of the "most impressive ceremonies ever beheld in Edmonton.

After lying in state for two hours, his body was taken back to the funeral home, and was taken to Government House the next morning, from where it was brought to the church that afternoon.

[11][16] It was attended by many prominent provincial-level politicians, including Premier William Aberhart, Chief Justices Horace Harvey and Charles Richmond Mitchell, University of Alberta president William A. R. Kerr, Attorney General of Alberta John Hugill, Mayor of Edmonton Joseph Clarke, and Assistant RCMP Commissioner Colonel Henry M. Newson.

"[18] His NWMP command was described as a "model to the Force", while his police career had been described to have "won the confidence and respect of the public to an exceptional degree.