Britain’s Prince Philip dies aged 99, prompting tributes from UK and abroad to ‘extraordinary life’
- He often attracted headlines for his gaffes but Philip was portrayed by royalists as the silent stalwart who shelved his personal ambitions to support Queen Elizabeth
- Liu Xiaoming, the former Chinese ambassador to the UK, tweeted: ‘I had the honour of meeting him on a number of occasions and was deeply impressed by his humor and friendly sentiments towards China’
“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,” the palace said in a statement.
“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.”
He was admitted to hospital on February 16, 2021, and went home after a month during which he was treated for a pre-existing heart condition and an infection.
Announcing his passing, BBC television played the national anthem over a picture of Philip in his prime, dressed in military dress uniform.
Philip, who was by the queen’s side for nearly eight decades, retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 96. His death came just months before his 100th birthday in June – an event typically marked in Britain with a congratulatory message from the queen, who is now Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
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Prince Philip, husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, dies at age 99