Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband to Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s longest-serving consort, passed away peacefully on April 9th at Windsor Castle.
The Royal Family took to Twitter this morning from Buckingham Palace to announce his passing.
“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,” said the palace on Twitter. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
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
Although he was infamously known for his occasional, controversial remarks about minorities and women, he also headed numerous charities and programs, namely for schoolchildren.
Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939, and at the age of 21 in 1942, he became First Lieutenant.
When Queen Elizabeth II gained the throne at age 25, her then fiancé Lieut. Philip Mountbatten gave up his promising naval career to stand by her side as a consort.
He leaves behind his wife, Queen Elizabeth II and four children, with his eldest son Prince Charles being the heir to the throne.
He is also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, one of which is the son of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan. In March, the couple was recently in the news for their interview with Oprah Winfrey about their life as senior royals and the shocking allegations that followed.
Earlier this year, Prince Philip spent some time in the hospital but was released home to Windsor Castle soon after.
Since there are no official duties for the husband of a sovereign queen, Prince Philip was often known for simply being by his wife’s side, to support her in many ways.
Although he was head of the family in private, in the public he would always walk three paces behind his wife, showing respect to the monarch.
Although a lot of controversial events happened in his lifetime that put him in the public eye, he never left his wife’s side, even until the end of his journey.
Condolences to Queen Elizabeth II and the entire Royal Family in the wake of his passing.
Featured photo credit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
