Prince Philip Dies at 99
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and the longest-serving consort of a British monarch, died at Windsor Castle on April 9. (Kiefer)
Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died on April 9 following years of poor health. Buckingham Palace announced the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in a press release, stating, “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.” The royal family did not disclose the cause of death. His funeral will take place at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17.
The Duke had battled a variety of medical problems since age 89. He underwent arterial surgery in 2011, abdominal surgery in 2013, and had a hip replaced in 2018. He also briefly visited the hospital in January 2019 after a car he was driving collided with another vehicle. Most recently, he spent more than a month in the hospital this year after reporting that he felt ill. He returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 and passed away less than a month later.
Prince Philip played a central role in the way the British monarchy dealt with a changing world. During his tenure as the royal consort, which began in 1952, nearly all of Britain’s colonies gained their independence. He retired from his royal duties in 2017, meaning he no longer attended non-personal public events.
Leaders from around the world shared condolences with the royal family, including President Biden, Pope Francis, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the Duke’s service as an officer in World War II, as the royal consort, and as a philanthropist. “He shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people, and at literally thousands of events he fostered their hopes and encouraged their ambitions,” Johnson said in a speech in front of his Downing Street residence on April 9.
Statements from the royal family portrayed the Duke as loving, driven, and sharp-witted. Princess Anne, the only daughter of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, said on April 11, "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." According to Prince Andrew, their third child, the Queen said that her husband’s death left her with “a huge void in her life.” The couple was married for 73 years.
However, many people have also begun to regard the royal family as an outdated institution. Critics of Prince Philip in particular cite his history of racist comments, such as joking warnings to British citizens in China that if they stayed too long, they would become “slitty-eyed.” Critics also disapprove of how he handled Princess Diana’s and Prince Charles’s marriage. More recent allegations are that Philip and his family mistreated Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, when she married Prince Harry, perhaps due to her biracial identity. Prince Harry will attend his grandfather’s funeral, but his wife Meghan said that she will remain in California because of her pregnancy.