‘No fuss’ final days at Windsor Castle
Upon his return from a lengthy stint in hospital three weeks ago, a defiant Prince Philip wanted to savour life’s simple pleasures.
Setting up at Windsor Castle, where he and Queen Elizabeth II have spent most of their time during the coronavirus pandemic, the 99-yearold Duke of Edinburgh was eager to be rid of routines par for the course of a royal life for seven decades.
Steadfast in his pursuit to take care of his own wellbeing, despite his frailty, royal insiders say Prince Philip was largely trying to manage his own affairs.
This included dressing himself in a shirt, jumper, trousers and shoes when he felt well enough to leave his room, refusing to wear a hearing aid and cancelling his 7.30am tea tray in bed so he was able to dine with the Queen at leisure.
In one instance, according to the Daily Mail, the royal dropped his reading glasses as a servant rushed to collect them for him. “Never mind,” he said. “I’ll do it.”
He was “calmer and quieter”, the insider added.
He used a walking stick, occasionally having to be pushed in a wheelchair, which he despised. An insider told the publication, “When it first appeared in the private rooms he shouted: ‘Get that bloody thing out of my sight!’.”
Though he was sleeping much of the day, Prince Philip and his Queen still managed to spend precious time together. On pleasant days, the Duke would sit on the veranda, having naps in the sunshine. He also enjoyed reading and writing letters, and was still speaking to loved ones on the phone. He was adamant this was where he wanted to be.
“When he came back to Windsor he said he was not going back to any hospital. No fuss was the constant refrain,” an insider said.
Prince Philip died “peacefully” at home on Friday, three weeks after a four-week stay at King Edward VII Hospital in London, where he underwent heart surgery.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” the royal family said.
The Duke officially retired from royal duties in 2017.