Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on Friday morning following a long stay in hospital last month.
“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,” the Royal Family said in a statement on Friday morning. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle,” the statement continues, adding that “the Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”
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. pic.twitter.com/XOIDQqlFPn
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 9, 2021
Prince Philip had returned to Windsor Castle on 16th March, after spending a month at King Edward VII’s hospital in central London for treatment. He had previously undergone a procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s – another London hospital not far away.
“Our thoughts are with Her Majesty and her family” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson, “who have lost not just a much-loved and highly respected public figure, but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. We are a kingdom united both in grief and gratitude; grief at Prince Philip’s passing, and gratitude for his decades of selfless service to the country.”
On the death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/rZlbY1matF
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2021
Tributes poured in from the great and the good to the mourn the death of Prince Philip. “He consistently put the interests of others ahead of his own and, in so doing, provided an outstanding example of Christian service,” said Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. “As we recover and rebuild after the terrible trial of the coronavirus pandemic, we will need fortitude and a deep sense of commitment to serving others,” he added.
The Prince, who holds the record as the longest-serving consort of a British monarch in history, having been married to the Queen for over 70 years, was well known for his colourful personality, and speaking his mind, and was beloved by many for his charm and wit. He was once described as “the only man in the world who treats the Queen simply as another human being.”