Prince Phillip – Duke of Edinburg dies

(BBC) – Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Buckingham Palace said: “It is with great sadness that Her Majesty the Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”

Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II

Boris Johnson said he “inspired the lives of countless young people”.

Speaking at Downing Street, the prime minister added: “It helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution undoubtedly vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.”

Mr Johnson said he received the news of the duke’s death “with great sadness”.

“Prince Philip has gained the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, throughout the Commonwealth, and around the world,” he said.

Paying tribute to the duke’s role as the longest-lived consort in history, Mr Johnson also remembered Prince Philip as one of the last people to survive fighting in World War II.

“From that conflict he took an ethics of service that applied throughout the unprecedented changes of the post-war era,” said Mr Johnson.

“As the expert vehicle driver he was, he helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution undoubtedly vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.”

‘Deep sense of commitment’

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “sad” at the duke’s death.

He tweeted: “I send my deepest personal condolences – and those of scotgov and the people of Scotland – to Her Majesty the Queen and her family.”

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had lost an “extraordinary public servant”, adding that he would be remembered first and foremost for his “most extraordinary commitment and devotion to the Queen”.

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “He constantly put the interests of others ahead of himself and, in doing so, was an outstanding example of Christian service.”

The archbishop added: “As we recover and rebuild after the terrible trial of the coronary virus pandemic, we will need resilience and a deep sense of commitment to serve others.”

The prince was married to Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and was the longest serving royal consort in British history.

In March, the Duke of Edinburgh left hospital after a month’s wait for treatment.

He had a pre-existing heart condition procedure at another London hospital – St Bartholomew’s.

Prince Philip and the Queen had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Their first son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, followed by his sister, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in 1950, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, in 1960 and the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward. , in 1964.

Prince Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on 10 June 1921.

His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, a younger son of King George I of the Hellenes.

His mother, Princess Alice, was a daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

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