Tributes paid as Britain's Prince Philip dies aged 99
Philip – father to Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.
Prince Philip, the husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth has died, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Philip, 99, was the longest-serving consort in British history.
Philip and the Queen were married for more than 70 years and he dedicated decades of his life to royal duty.
He officially retired from public engagements in the summer of 2017.
The Palace said in a statement: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
“Further announcements will made in due course.
“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
Philip – father to Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.
The death of Prince Philip comes in the midst of the worst public health crisis for generations as the UK and countries around the globe reel from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
In November 2019, the Queen and Philip’s second son Prince Andrew stepped down from public duties, following his disastrous Newsnight interview about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It has also taken place in the aftermath of Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell Oprah interview which left the monarchy in crisis after Meghan accused an unnamed royal of racism and the institution of failing to help her when she was suicidal.
Philip had returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital – his longest ever stay.
He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition.
He had looked gaunt as he was driven away from King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London, having been pushed in a wheelchair to the waiting car.
He spent much of the Covid-19 crisis staying with the Queen at Windsor in HMS Bubble – the nickname given to the couple’s reduced household of devoted staff during lockdown.
The Queen and Philip spent a quiet Christmas in 2020 at Windsor alone, except for their staff, and Buckingham Palace announced on January 9 2021, during England’s third national lockdown, that they had both received their Covid-19 vaccinations.
He was hospitalised for a month from the middle of February, eventually having heart surgery.
British prime minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to Prince Philip in Downing Street and said “he helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin posted on Twitter: “Saddened to hear of the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Queen Elizabeth and the people of the United Kingdom at this time.”
Saddened to hear of the death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 9, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with Queen Elizabeth and the people of the United Kingdom at this time.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney tweeted: “I want to express sincere condolences to all British people on the sad passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts and solidarity are with you on a very sad day for the United Kingdom.”
I want to express sincere condolences to all British people on the sad passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts and solidarity are with you on a very sad day for the United Kingdom.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) April 9, 2021
Former Lord Mayor of Cork, Michael O'Connell, reflected on the Prince's "great form" when he visited the county in 2011:
"It was a beautiful summers day and the people of cork came out in their thousands to welcome them both to our city and in particular the wonderful welcome they received from the English Market community.
"The visit was a fantastic success and will be remembered by the people of cork may he rest in peace," he said.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said in a statement: “The United Kingdom has lost an extraordinary public servant in Prince Philip."
The President of Greece – where Prince Phillip was born almost 100 years ago – has paid tribute to him and his decades of service.
President Katerina Sakellaropoulou shared a photo of Philip as a young boy dressed as an Evzone guard.
Philip was born a prince of Greece and Denmark, allegedly on the kitchen table of his family home, Mon Repos, on the Greek island of Corfu, in 1921.
President Sakellaropoulou tweeted: “The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu, served his country with devotion for many decades.
“I extend my warm condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the members of the Royal Family and the British people.”
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu, served his country with devotion for many decades. I extend my warm condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the members of the @RoyalFamily and the British people. pic.twitter.com/qmB4PZjLDM
— President GR (@PresidencyGR) April 9, 2021
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have issued a joint statement expressing their sympathies following the death of Prince Philip on behalf of the Stormont Executive.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “I am saddened by news that the Duke of Edinburgh has died. I send my personal and deepest condolences – and those of @scotgov and the people of Scotland – to Her Majesty The Queen and her family.”
Mark Drakeford, first minister of Wales, has offered his condolences to the Queen and Royal Family on behalf of the Welsh Government.
“It is with sadness that we mourn the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh,” Mr Drakeford said in a statement.
The Union Jack flag on Buckingham Palace is flying at half mast.
The royal family’s official website switched to a holding page in memory of the prince.
It featured a central image of Philip on a black background, accompanied by the Palace’s statement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip. I would like to extend my sincere sympathy to Her Majesty The Queen, the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom on this very sad day.”
Philip was the youngest child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece, an officer in the Greek army, and Princess Alice of Battenberg.
Although he was a Prince of Greece, he had no Greek blood and his complex background was in fact Danish, German, Russian and British. He was born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10 1921.
In the early 1920s, Greece was politically unstable and Philip’s family fled in exile.
King George V ordered that a Royal Navy ship should evacuate them, and 18-month-old Philip was carried to safety in a cot made from an orange box in December 1922.
The family settled in Paris but Philip later went to stay with relatives in Britain, where he attended boarding school.
Although they had met previously, the 18-year-old Philip, and 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth – both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria – had their first publicised meeting in July 1939 at Dartmouth Naval College.
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