Prince William on Prince Philip: " My Grandfather Was an Extraordinary Man"
When the royal family first confirmed the sad news that Prince Philip had passed away at the age of 99, they did so with a unified statement, which read:
"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. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."
But over the weekend, individual members of the family began sharing personal tributes to the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Charles shared how he already misses his father.
"As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously," he said. "He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow."
The Prince of Wales pays tribute to The Duke of Edinburgh on behalf of The Royal Family. pic.twitter.com/tDP0rkKGzc
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) April 10, 2021
Princess Anne released a statement about her father's passing, and his legacy. "You know it’s going to happen but you are never really ready," she wrote. "My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate."
And Philip's daughter-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, spoke movingly about his final moments, describing them as "very peaceful."
“It was right for him. It was so gentle,” she said. “It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went. Very, very peaceful and that’s all you want for somebody isn’t it?”
Now, Prince William has issued a formal statement remembering his grandfather, in which he says, "My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation."
Read his full statement below:
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. I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her. I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!
My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. 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.
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