After over 70 years at The Queen’s side, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh has passed away at the age of 99.
The Prince Consort died at Windsor Castle ‘peacefully’ this morning, but the palace is yet to release further details.
A tweet reads: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced 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.”
His hospitalisation in the middle of February was on doctors’ orders, as a precaution, and the Duke was said to be ‘in good spirits’ by Buckingham Palace. The admission was also understood to not be related to Covid.
The Queen and Prince Philip read a card from Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to mark their 73rd wedding anniversary. (Chris Jackson/Getty/Buckingham Palace)
The Prince of Wales visited his father at the King Edward VII Hospital in central London on 20th February, and was photographed looking teary-eyed; Charles also travelled from Highgrove in Gloucestershire to see his father, which alerted many of us that despite Philip’s ‘good spirits’, the situation was more serious.
The Duke received his Covid-19 vaccination in March, alongside his wife, at Windsor Castle as part of the priority groups.
Philip had a number of medical issues in his later life, including a blocked coronary artery, which was treated with the fitting of a stent in 2011; this was followed by a period of recuperation at Sandringham.
A water infection following the Diamond Jubilee saw him hospitalised for a few days in 2012, and he underwent exploratory operation on his abdomen, spending 11 days in hospital in 2013. Another infection in 2017 also put the Duke in hospital – as a result, he missed the State Opening of Parliament and Ascot. A hip problem, seeing him given a replacement, came in April 2018.
Some of his last public appearances have been family weddings, including those of Lady Gabriella and Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice during the pandemic. He handed over a patronage to The Duchess of Cornwall in July 2020.
The Princess’ newborn, August, has Philip as a middle name, honouring his great-grandfather.
The Queen and Prince Philip with Princess Beatrice and Edo on their wedding day
Prince Philip retired from his royal duties on 2nd August 2017, after some 65 years of official duties. His last event was with the Royal Marines, making it the 22,219th solo engagement. He has famously referred to himself as ‘the world’s most experienced plaque-unveiler’ thanks to his long service as de facto Prince Consort.
Philip is survived by his wife, The Queen (94), his four children (Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward) eight grandchildren – Peter, William, Zara, Harry, Beatrice, Eugenie, Louise and James – plus nine great-grandchildren.
Two further great grandchildren are on the way in the families of Mike and Zara Tindall, and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
