Brothers in arms: Prince William and Harry pay tribute to 'extraordinary' grandpa Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh passed away aged 99 on Friday.
By PTI |
AP
File photo of April 12, 2006: Prince Philip, left, talks to his grandsons, Prince William, centre, and Prince Harry, right, following The Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England.
LONDON: Princes William and Harry on Monday issued their respective tribute statements to their "extraordinary" grandpa, Prince Philip - the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away aged 99 on Friday.
Both brothers, reportedly estranged in recent months since Harry stepped back as a frontline royal after his wedding to Meghan Markle, make references to the late Duke's sense of humour and describe him as a man of service.
"My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation," reads the statement by Prince William, the second in line to Britain's throne.
"My grandfather's century of life was defined by service - to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family. I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life - both through good times and the hardest days," said the 38-year-old prince.
William, the Duke of Cambridge, also reflected on his grandfather's kindness to his wife, Kate Middleton, and the special memories his children - Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis - will have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and sharing his "infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour".
"Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead. I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job," concludes William's message, released by Kensington Palace alongside an image of Prince Philip in a carriage with great-grandson Prince George.
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File photo of October 31, 2015: Britain's Prince Harry, Prince Philip and Prince William (L-R) attend the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand against Australia at Twickenham in London, Britain. Prince Harry's message, posted on his Archewell Foundation website, struck a more informal note as it reflected on Prince Philip's "dedication to Granny", in reference to Queen Elizabeth II.
"My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm - and also because you never knew what he might say next," reads the statement from Harry, sixth in line to the British throne.
"He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end," reads the statement.
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Harry, 36, who has flown down from his California home to London ahead of the royal funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday, reflected on his grandfather's "unparalleled devotion" to the Queen for 73 years of their marriage and thanked him for his service and for always being himself.
He added: "While I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'
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"You will be sorely missed, but always remembered - by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts."
His former actress wife, Meghan Markle, is soon to deliver a baby girl and remains at their US home as she was advised against travel by her doctors this late in her pregnancy.
Meanwhile, members of Parliament began proceedings in the House of Commons by observing a minute's silence to remember the Duke's life. In the House of Lords, the Archbishop of Canterbury said Prince Philip led a life of "extraordinary service", adding that "some rare people bring energy into a room and the Duke of Edinburgh was one of these people".
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led tributes at Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament, and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford presided over tributes in the Welsh Assembly.
Prince Philip Was A painter & Fan Of Carriage Driving. Some Lesser-Known Facts About Him
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The husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip – the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away on Friday aged 99. Like his wife, Prince Philip was also born into royalty and a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria. He spent most of his life in the spotlight after marrying into an even-more high-profile royal family.
At the side of Queen Elizabeth II for more than 73 years and renowned for his gaffes, Prince Philip was also a painter and fan of carriage driving. Here are some of the facts about him that are now forgotten.
The husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip – the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away on Friday aged 99. Like his wife, Prince Philip was also born into royalty and a great-great-grandchild..
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Philip was well-known for his love of horses and the equestrian activities of polo and carriage driving, a sport in which he competed for Britain. He is also a writer and a pilot.
However, the prince's passion for painting was more private.
Perhaps his most famous work is a 1965 image showing his wife at breakfast reading the morning papers and titled: "The Queen at Breakfast, Windsor Castle".
Philip was well-known for his love of horses and the equestrian activities of polo and carriage driving, a sport in which he competed for Britain. He is also a writer and a pilot.However, the prince'..
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Britain's Prince Philip made several memorable royal visits to India in his long years of accompanying the 94-year-old monarch during her nearly 69-year reign. The UK's longest-serving royal consort joined the Queen in India in 1959, 1961, 1983 and 1997 – during which he made quite an impression with his sense of humour, which often also got him into some controversy.
During his 1961 visit to India, he was pictured with the Queen and the Maharaja and Maharani of Jaipur with a dead eight-foot tiger he had shot while on a hunt. It happened to be the same year he became president of the World Wildlife Fund UK.
He also shot a crocodile and mountain sheep on that trip but it was the photograph of the tiger that caused ripples around the world. Later in life, he went on to reinvent himself as an environmentalist and “champion of the natural world” as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to him in his tribute on Friday.
Britain's Prince Philip made several memorable royal visits to India in his long years of accompanying the 94-year-old monarch during her nearly 69-year reign. The UK's longest-serving royal consort ..
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Philip, born in 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu where he lived until he was 18 months old, made major sacrifices to marry Princess Elizabeth in 1947. He had to renounce his title of Prince of Greece and Denmark to take up British nationality, in return becoming Duke of Edinburgh just before his marriage, and Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957.
Philip also had to give up active duty as a naval commander after his wife was brought to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952.
He was obliged to convert from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism to marry, and reportedly stopped smoking just before the wedding to please his bride.
Philip, born in 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu where he lived until he was 18 months old, made major sacrifices to marry Princess Elizabeth in 1947. He had to renounce his title of Prince of Greec..
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Philip was forced to give up his naval career when his wife became Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, he devoted himself to supporting her. He traveled the globe with her and took over management of the royal estates.
But he also found his own causes to support, including setting up a non-competitive activity program that encourages young people to recognize their abilities.
He painted, collected modern art and was interested in industrial design. But, he once said, "the arts world thinks of me as an uncultured, polo-playing clot."
Philip was forced to give up his naval career when his wife became Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, he devoted himself to supporting her. He traveled the globe with her and took over management of the ro..
