«His Highness has passed away peacefully»: Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip has died

Kremlin relations

On April 9, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died in the United Kingdom. This news was stated by Buckingham Palace. 

The prince didn’t live to see his centenary for only a few months. 

фото: Carl de Souza

“It is with deep sadness that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has announced the death of her beloved husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle, ” — Buckingham Palace tweeted on the day of his death.

On March 16, 2021, Prince Philip was released from the hospital, where he was admitted on February 16 on the advice of doctors. The palace soon confirmed that Elizabeth’s husband had been diagnosed with an unrelated coronavirus infection. On March 3, the Duke of Edinburgh had a heart surgery. 

In connection with COVID-19, the funeral of Prince Philip will be held in a narrow family circle. There will be no public farewell due to the UK’s current quarantine restrictions on mass events. 

In the UK, mourning is declared, national flags are lowered at half-mast. 

From the ship to the ball

After the outbreak of World War II, Prince Philip entered the Naval War College at Dartmouth, soon becoming a midshipman. The future Prince of Great Britain was particularly distinguished by his bravery and bravery during the liberation of Sicily and in the fighting in the Indian Ocean. 

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In Dartmouth, during the visit of King George VI, the first meeting of 18-year-old Philip with 13-year-old Elizabeth took place. Since then, he has corresponded with her, the future Queen of Great Britain, all the time. 

They were in love, the relationship was actively developing, despite the discontent of those close to the royal family. 

In the summer of 1946, Prince Philip asked for the hand of George VI’s daughter. Philip renounced the titles of Prince of Greece and Denmark and took the surname Mountbatten, also converted from Orthodoxy to Anglicanism — all these were conditions for the wedding with Elizabeth. 

The day before the ceremony, the king granted Philip the title of His Royal Highness, and on the day of the wedding, Philip became the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.

On 6 February 1952, King George VI died and Elizabeth succeeded to the throne. From this time on, Philip becomes Prince Consort as the Queen’s husband. Only in 1957, he received the title of Prince of Great Britain. 

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II have four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

The idol of millions

During the years of his marriage to Elizabeth II, Prince Philip invariably accompanied his wife to all important state events and even participated in various official events every year. He did this more often than many other members of the royal family, helping charitable foundations. 

“He has been my mainstay all these years, and his entire family, and many other countries, owe him more than he could ever demand…” — about his husband Elizabeth II in 1997.

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Prince Philip had many hobbies: playing polo, fishing, yachting, piloting. The prince loved cars and drove until the accident that happened to him. 

Moreover, in the 60s, he was president of the International Wildlife Fund, and sat on the council of the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Salford and Wales. In total, Prince Philip took part in many events and visits during his service to the royal family.

Prince Philip had set a record for the longest life span of any member of the British royal family in history. In the UK, he was the third oldest male British grand piano player ever.