Queen Elizabeth II has often credited one person as the source of her strength throughout her historic reign: her husband, the late Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. By her side for many of the milestones of her reign, this significant and sombre moment recognises the passing of her beloved husband on this day in 2021.
Exactly one year ago, at 1:01 pm, the Royal Family’s social media accounts shared the sad announcement: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced 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.”
The Queen was reportedly by her husband’s side when he passed away, and her son described the monumental loss as having “left a huge void in her life.”
The Queen and Prince Philip met in the mid-1930s, and by 1939, then-Princess Elizabeth was totally smitten with the naval cadet. The couple were engaged in July 1947 and married that November, enjoying their lives together as their responsibilities—and family—grew.
Married for nearly 74 years, The Queen publicly called Prince Philip her “strength and stay all these years” and noted, “I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Prince Philip had dealt with periods of ill health in his final years, though his final weeks were spent at Windsor Castle with his family surrounding him. The Duke had been admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital in London on 16 February and transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital on 1 March. Following a procedure for a heart condition on 3 March, he was sent back to King Edward VII’s Hospital on 5 March and discharged to Windsor Castle on the 16th of that month.
On 10 April, details of Prince Philip’s funeral were announced. The Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on 17 April, surrounded by immediate family, due to the ongoing pandemic.
The Prince of Wales spoke from his home at Highgrove the day after his father’s death, telling reporters that: “My dear papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time.”
The Princess Royal also shared a statement, writing that “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.”
In the days following his death, the Royal Family went into deep mourning for their beloved patriarch, and the Royal Family’s social media accounts became devoted to honouring the life and service of Prince Philip.
On 11 April, the Royal Family’s social media accounts shared the update: “Over his life, The Duke of Edinburgh was associated with 992 charities and organisations, from scientific and tech research to the welfare of young people and the encouragement of sport.
“Join us over the next 7 days as we look back at His Royal Highness’s life and work.”
The Queen did not issue a public statement about Prince Philip’s death, simply choosing to share a favourite photo of the two of them at the top of the Coyles of Muick at Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, in 2003.
On the day of Prince Philip’s funeral, the Royal Family’s social media accounts shared another simple message: “In loving memory of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“1921-2021.”
