The Duke of Edinburgh has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Prince Phillip, husband and consort to Queen Elizabeth II, recently spent four weeks in hospital, his longest stay ever.
The Palace said in a statement: “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.”
The Duke of Edinburgh has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Prince Phillip, husband and consort to Queen Elizabeth II, recently spent four weeks in hospital, his longest stay ever.
The Palace said in a statement: “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.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: “The United Kingdom has lost an extraordinary public servant in Prince Philip.
“Prince Philip dedicated his life to our country – from a distinguished career in the Royal Navy during the Second World War to his decades of service as the Duke of Edinburgh.
“However, he will be remembered most of all for his extraordinary commitment and devotion to the Queen.
“For more than seven decades, he has been at her side. Their marriage has been a symbol of strength, stability and hope, even as the world around them changed – most recently during the pandemic. It was a partnership that inspired millions in Britain and beyond.
“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.”
Prince Philip – who was often said to keep a firm grip over Royal Family affairs – retired from royal duties in 2017 aged 96.
Philip, who once described himself as the “world’s most experienced plaque unveiler”, was the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch.
He was the oldest-ever male member of the British Royal Family.
He also set up the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, which in the 1950s was designed to bridge a gap between leaving school and beginning national service.
Over the decades it’s been completed by millions of teenagers and operates in many different countries.
Philip stepped down from his public duties in August 2017 with the full support of the Queen. He did attend the weddings of his grandchildren Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie, in May and October 2018.
He also attended his granddaughter Princess Beatrice’s royal wedding in July 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, and Lady Gabriella Windsor’s in May 2019.
Philip and the Queen spent more time together than they had for some time during the coronavirus pandemic, living together at Windsor Castle for most of the year.
He had retired to Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate but moved to be with his wife.
The Duke had faced a number of health scares in recent years after suffering from a bladder infection and a blocked coronary artery.
He also had abdominal and hip surgery in recent years.
He spent four days at King Edward VII hospital in London just before Christmas 2019, on the advice of his doctor and was discharged in time for the usual family celebrations in Sandringham.
In February 2021, he was admitted to the same hospital, on his doctor’s advice, after feeling unwell.
It came after the duke had received the first coronavirus vaccine, and the palace said it was not linked to COVID-19.
Funeral plans will be confirmed in the coming days.
