Duke: Standing down? ‘I can’t stand up much longer’
BRITAIN: The Duke of Edinburgh signed off with a quip after it was announced he is to retire from public duty later this year at the age of 96.
The Duke, whose birthday is in June, is to step down from public engagements from the northern autumn, with the ‘‘full support’’ of the Queen.
Shortly after the announcement, the Duke quashed all speculation about ill health by joining a reception for Order of Merit members at St James’s Palace in good spirits.
Told by mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah, ‘‘I’m sorry to hear you’re standing down,’’ the Duke joked: ‘‘Well, I can’t stand up much longer.’’
The Duke will fulfil engagements in his diary until August, after which he will join the Queen for their annual trip to Balmoral in Scotland before easing himself into a more leisurely lifestyle. He will be based at Windsor Castle, and may choose to enjoy an outing at public events occasionally.
Royal sources emphasised that the announcement was not made on health grounds. Aides said it was made by the Duke alone, after he came to his own decision about his future.
A statement confirming that he would no longer carry out public engagements was met with tributes yesterday, with British Prime Minister Theresa May praising the ‘‘steadfast support’’ the Duke has offered the Queen, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hailing his ‘‘clear sense of public duty’’.
The announcement was delivered first to royal staff, who had been summoned to Buckingham Palace for what had been called an ‘‘emergency meeting’’.
Shortly afterwards, the palace issued a statement confirming: ‘‘His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year.
‘‘In taking this decision, the Duke has the full support of the Queen.’’
The Queen, a spokesman confirmed, would continue her ‘‘full programme’’, as other members of the royal family step up to support her.
A royal source said: ‘‘This is not a decision taken for medical reasons. The Duke decided this is the right time; he’s nearly 96, and most people will have retired 30 years earlier.
‘‘He’s looking forward to enjoying more of his leisure time.’’
From now until August, the Duke will continue with a full programme, including appearances at Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot, the Chelsea Flower Show, the State Opening of Parliament, a state visit and garden parties. He will also make sure to visit causes close to his heart, including a presentation for Duke of Edinburgh award winners.
Although he will continue as patron or president of nearly 800 charities, his involvement will be scaled back from active appearances to correspondence and messages, including writing forewords and signing certificates.
Other members of the royal family will absorb his former responsibilities, with Prince Charles already taking on many jobs as representative of the Queen, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge moving permanently back to London.
It is 70 years since Prince Philip took on his role as Duke. On November 20 the royal couple will celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary.
A source said the Duke had considered autumn the ‘‘right moment to step back’’, adding that it was a decision ‘‘only he could make’’.
It comes nearly six years after an interview to commemorate his 90th birthday, in which he told the BBC: ‘‘I reckon I’ve done my bit. I want to enjoy myself for a bit now, with less responsibility, less frantic rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say.’’
The staffing of the Duke’s small household is now under consideration.
Figures released by Buckingham
Palace yesterday showed that from 1952 to May 4, 2017, the Duke had completed 22,191 solo engagements, 637 overseas visits and 5493 speeches.
He will have accompanied the Queen on many more royal trips and visits.
He has remained one of the hardest-working members of the royal family even into his 90s, gradually reducing his engagements from 124 in 2014 to 116 in 2015 and 110 in 2016.
Earlier this week, he joked that he was ‘‘the world’s most experienced plaque unveiler’’ as he opened a new stand at Lord’s cricket ground.
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