Prince Philip disappeared on the eve of his death and was later found to have made his way to an ancient room in Windsor Castle for a final beer.
The prince, 99, snuck off as the light faded on April 8 2021 and headed for the Oak Room in the castle where he settled down for a drink.
The revelation comes from well connected author, Hugo Vickers, who writes of the incident in his new book ‘Queen Elizabeth II’.
He writes that on what would prove to be the last night of his life, Prince Philip gave his nurses the slip and walked to the Oak Room where he settled down for a beer.
It was a poignant choice as the room was a favourite spot of Queen Elizabeth II.
The two had been photographed there as they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary just a few months earlier with Prince Philip enjoying a card that had been sent to them by their great grandchildren. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had made the card for the couple – there were no family visits in November 2020 when the anniversary fell because of the ongoing Covid pandemic.
But Queen Elizabeth II’s fondness for the room stretched much further back than that. It had been the scene of several of her birthday celebrations including a party for her in 1934 when she turned 8 and which was reported by the Sunday Mirror which revealed the young princess had a two tier cake decorated with pink roses. In 1938, the Daily Mirror reported that the 12th birthday party of the then Princess Elizabeth was held in the room.
It was also a favourite spot for giving out Christmas presents when the family celebrated there and it was also the setting for Christmas speeches including that given in 1984.
When Prince Philip settled into it for a beer, in his final illness, it was filled with family mementoes. An image of the room, shared the following year when Queen Elizabeth II held an audience there, showed several photos of the couple with the grandchildren and great grandchildren on the tables and sideboards.
Hugo Vickers also writes about Prince Philip’s death which, he says, came eight years after he was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. In the book, Queen Elizabeth II, he says that Prince Philip got up on the morning of April 9 2021 and had a bath before saying he didn’t feel well. He then slipped away peacefully and before his wife of 73 years could reach his side. The book says Queen Elizabeth II was upset that ”as usual” he had left without saying goodbye.
The book is one of the first major biographies of Queen Elizabeth II to be published since her death on September 8 2022.
