Friday April 9, 2021 | BRITAIN & COMMONWEALTH [Update April 10: A ceremonial funeral will be held on Saturday April 17, 2021 on the grounds of Windsor Castle, limited to 30 people due to COVID restrictions, but also televised.]
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
Today at age 99, the Queen’s husband — Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh — passed away at home at Windsor Castle. Other than a recent period in hospital said to be about a previously known heart condition (during which both his son Prince Charles — heir to the throne, and his grandson Prince William — 2nd in line to the throne visited him), Prince Philip had been isolating during the COVID pandemic at Windsor Castle along with the Queen.
Today during a media session in Ottawa both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, reminisced briefly about meeting the Duke both in their childhood years and then Trudeau later when Prime Minister. They both remarked on the Prince’s commitment to youth.
So far there has been no comment from Queen Elizabeth II on the passing of her husband of 74 years. Her Majesty, at 93, is still a working royal, undertaking many royal duties throughout the year. She did many of these alongside Prince Philip until he retired in 2017.
The Duke was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on June 10, 1921. He married Britain’s then Princess Elizabeth in 1947.
After being educated in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Philip had joined the British Royal Navy in 1939 at age 18. From July 1939, he began corresponding with the then 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth, whom he had first met in 1934. During the Second World War he served with distinction in the Mediterranean and Pacific Fleets.
After the war, Philip was granted permission by George VI to marry Elizabeth. Before the official announcement of their engagement in July 1947, he abandoned his Greek and Danish titles, became a naturalized British subject, and adopted his maternal grandparents’ surname Mountbatten. He married Elizabeth on November 20, 1947. Just before the wedding, he was granted the title His Royal Highness and was created as Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King George VI. Philip left active military service when Elizabeth became queen in 1952.
BC Premier John Horgan has issued a statement:
“Today, I join British Columbians to mourn the passing of Prince Philip, the longest serving royal consort, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s stalwart supporter.
“Prince Philip’s long life was defined by his dedication to the Queen, his steadfast devotion to the Commonwealth and its people, as well as his strong support for military regiments and charities, and his championship of conservation and the environment.
“He left an indelible mark each and every time he visited British Columbia, whether he was alongside the Queen or on his own.
“He will be especially remembered for the important work he did in helping to establish the Khutzeymateen Provincial Park as a sanctuary for grizzly bears. His legacy will also live on through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which he founded. This prestigious and inspirational achievement program has made a direct and real difference to thousands of young people in our province, and will continue to develop leaders of tomorrow.
“On behalf of all British Columbians, I offer my deepest sympathies to Her Majesty The Queen and all members of the Royal Family.”
===== Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International (Canada)
Today the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International (Canada) posted on their website:
“As a global Award family, we are deeply saddened by the death of our Founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT. A committed champion of young people; His Royal Highness leaves the world and its young people with an extraordinary legacy.”
===== Royal visits to B.C. by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh visited British Columbia on 12 occasions, both on his own and alongside Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
He was at the Queen’s side on all seven of her tours to B.C. His solo visits were often to present The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to support military regiments and charitable organizations, and to participate in Commonwealth events.
1951, Oct. 8 to Nov. 12 – Prince Philip made his first official visit to Canada in 1951, accompanying Princess Elizabeth on a cross-Canada tour. The royal couple visited Victoria and Vancouver, made a brief stop in Nanaimo and had a private retreat in Qualicum Beach.
1954, July 29 to Aug. 17 – Prince Philip made a solo 20-day visit to various Canadian cities. In B.C., he visited Victoria, attended the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver where he witnessed the “Miracle Mile”, and poured the first aluminium ingot at a new smelter in Kitimat.
1959, June 18 to Aug. 1 – Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II spent six ambitious weeks in Canada. They visited many B.C. cities by train, including Golden, Kamloops and Spences Bridge. In the Lower Mainland, Prince Philip joined the Queen at the official opening of the Deas Island Tunnel, and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The royal couple also visited Victoria and Nanaimo and made a brief stop in Terrace en route to Yukon.
1962, May 12 to June 3 – Prince Philip attended the second Commonwealth Study Conference hosted by Canada. Sessions were held in Quebec, Ontario and B.C. While in Vancouver, he presented new colours to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada at a ceremony held at the University of British Columbia.
1969, Oct. 16-31 – Prince Philip visited six provinces, including B.C., to study operations of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
1971, May 3-12 – Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II and their daughter Princess Anne visited numerous cities in B.C. to mark the 100th anniversary of the province’s entry into Confederation.
1983, March 8-11 – Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit to B.C., touring Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo and New Westminster. Prince Philip attended a solo engagement at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and travelled alone to Kamloops to preside over the presentation of colours to the Rocky Mountain Rangers.
1987, Oct. 9-24 – Prince Philip joined Queen Elizabeth II on a private retreat to Qualicum Beach before visiting Greater Victoria and participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Vancouver. (The royal couple also visited Saskatchewan and Quebec on their 16-day tour.)
1989, May 16-17 – Prince Philip made an overnight stop in Victoria and dined with then-Lieut. Gov. David Lam.
1992, March 7-12 – Travelling alone, Prince Philip attended Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Alberta before attending engagements in Victoria and Vancouver for the World Wildlife Fund, one of many organizations and causes close to his heart.
1994, August 13-22 – Prince Philip accompanied Queen Elizabeth II to B.C. to open the Commonwealth Games in Victoria. Prince Philip headed north independently, visiting Prince Rupert at the Khutzeymateen Valley where he officially opened a grizzly bear sanctuary. (The royal couple also spent time in Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories.)
2002, October 4-15 – On their last Royal Tour of Canada, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II spent 12 days touring Nunavut, B.C., Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick in celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. While in Victoria, they attended a Sunday Service at Christ Church Cathedral and visited the Parliament Buildings where a stained-glass window designed in honour of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee was unveiled. In Vancouver, the royal couple watched an exhibition NHL game between the Canucks and the San Jose Sharks, for which the Queen dropped the ceremonial puck to open the game.
===== LINKS:
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Wikipedia page)