The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth’s husband Prince Philip died on Friday, the Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99.
“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,” the palace tweeted. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”
The funeral date has not yet been announced, but there is speculation that there will not be a memorial service, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flags on UK government buildings will fly at half-mast until the day after the duke’s funeral, reported The Guardian.
Prince Philip was married to the Queen for 73 years, from 1947, making him the longest-serving royal consort in British history, the BBC reported.
In February, Prince Philip was admitted to London’s King Edward VII’s hospital. He later underwent a heart surgery at another hospital. Prince Philip returned the Windsor Castle after a month.
Prince Philip was involved with several charities. In 2017, the palace had announced that Prince Philip would retire from royal duties.
Several leaders in the United Kingdom have offered their condolences to the royal family.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “He [Prince Philip] 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,” the BBC reported. “From that conflict he took an ethic of service that he applied throughout the unprecedented changes of the post-War era. Like the expert carriage driver that he was, 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.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon she was saddened by the duke’s death. “I send my personal and deepest condolences – and those of scotgov and the people of Scotland – to Her Majesty The Queen and her family,” she tweeted.
Besides them, political leaders across the world also paid tribute to him. United States President Joe Biden said: “From his service during World War II, to his 73 years alongside the Queen, and his entire life in the public eye – Prince Philip gladly dedicated himself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth, and to his family...His legacy will live on not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavors he shaped.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Prince Philip had a distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives. “My thoughts are with the British people and the Royal Family on the passing away of HRH [His Royal Highness] The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” he tweeted.
Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Irish President Michael D Higgins, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among those who have paid their respects to Prince Philip.
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