The Duke of Edinburgh, the longest-serving consort to a monarch in British history, has died today at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace has announced.
In a statement just released by Buckingham Palace they say:
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.”
A Greek prince born on Corfu, Philip married Elizabeth in 1947. He went on to play a key role in modernising the monarchy in the post-World War Two period, and behind the walls of Buckingham Palace was the one key figure the queen could turn to and trust.
“He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years,” Elizabeth said in a rare personal tribute to Philip, made in a speech marking their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.
“I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Philip spent four weeks in hospital earlier this year for treatment for an infection and to have a heart procedure, but returned to Windsor in early March. He died just two months before he was to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Flags at Buckingham Palace and at government buildings across Britain were lowered to half-mast. No details about his funeral have been disclosed yet
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said outside Downing Street
“Prince Philip earned the affection of generations here in the UK, across the Commonwealth & around the world. He was the longest serving consort in history & one of the last surviving people in this country to have served in WW2.”
He added:
“Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary, Her Majesty said that our country owed her husband “a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know” and I am sure that estimate is correct.So we mourn today with Her Majesty The Queen.”
Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer paid the following tribute
My thoughts are with The Queen, the Royal Family and the British people as our nation comes together to mourn and remember the life of Prince Philip.
Speaker of the House of Commons,. Sir Lindsay Hoyle said:
This is obviously a very sad day for Her Majesty, the Royal Family and the whole country. The Duke of Edinburgh has given his unwavering support to The Queen, both as a husband and as a consort. Described by Her Majesty as ‘my constant strength’, he served this country too, first with distinction during the Second World War and selflessly throughout eight decades during peacetime.
Prince Philip has performed wide-ranging official roles, carrying out thousands of engagements and overseas visits on behalf of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. He will be remembered for his loyal devotion to service and his leadership of hundreds of ideals and causes close to his heart. Most notably, of course, is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which helps millions of young people around the world to achieve their full potential as team members and future leaders in their chosen fields.
His was a long life that saw so much dedication to duty. Today we must pause to honour him and to offer our sincerest thanks for the Prince’s devout faithfulness to our country – and all the nations shall miss him greatly.
