Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip has passed away at the age of 99, the Royal Family announced on Friday, 9 April.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces 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,” a statement from the Buckingham Palace said on Friday.
Prince Philip had been recently hospitalised and had undergone a successful heart procedure, which took place on 3 March.
The Union Jack is at half-mast over Buckingham Palace in tribute to Prince Philip, reported AFP.
Funeral Preparations
According to the College of Arms, Prince Philip’s funeral will not be a state funeral. Instead, his body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle, ahead of the funeral which will take place in St George’s Chapel, in accordance with the late royal’s wishes.
The funeral arrangements have been made keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic and members of the public have been asked to not attend or participate in any of the funeral events.
Meanwhile, all official flags, including the Union Jack, will be flown at half-mast till 8 am on the day following the funeral. All non-official flags have asked to be taken down and replaced with a Union flag flying at half-mast.
Britain’s Longest-Serving Consort
Hailing from the Greek and Danish families, Prince Philip was also the nephew of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, under whom the country became independent.
His mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg, a descendent of German princes. Prince Philip was also a great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.
He married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became the Queen. The couple had four children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
The nation’s longest-serving consort, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II had been married for 73 years and had taken their COVID-19 vaccines in January, reported The Guardian.
They had been living largely in isolation at Windsor Castle, owing to the pandemic and Prince Philip was last seen at a military ceremony at Windsor Castle in July. This came just days after his presence at the wedding of his granddaughter Princess Beatrice, reports AFP.
(With inputs from The Guardian and AFP.)
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