Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and royal consort of Queen Elizabeth II, died at his home in Windsor Castle on Friday morning. He leaves behind four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. His son, Prince Charles, is the heir apparent to the British throne .
Just three weeks prior, the prince left hospital after a month-long treatment. He was being treated for an infection, which was not believed to have been COVID-19, and also underwent a heart procedure at a specialised cardiac care unit at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said it joined 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.”
Prince Philip was the longest-serving consort of a royal monarch, having married Elizabeth II in 1947. He hails from the Greek and Danish royal familes, and was known for his sometimes acerbic humour. Having graced over 20,000 royal events, he once described himself as "the world's most experienced plaque unveiler".
Prince Philip and the Queen had spent most of the lockdown at Windsor Castle in England with a small group of household staff, nicknamed HMS Bubble. The couple, who have been married for 73 years, received their first COVID-19 jabs together in January.
The Duke retired from official royal duties in 2017 after years of service in the armed forces and then as a consort to the monarch, with several charity endeavours.
On the death of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. pic.twitter.com/rZlbY1matF
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a statement on Prince Philip’s death, calling him a man who lived an extraordinary life and who inspired countless young people.
