His spirit will live on – Edward
PRINCE Edward has praised his father’s “unique” approach to life in a message to Duke of Edinburgh Award holders.
The Earl ofWessex thanked them for sharing their memories of Prince Philip, and told them the duke was a man “once met, never forgotten”.
Edward, 57, the Queen and Philip’s youngest child, is a trustee of the award charity and its international version.
He was chosen to carry forward his father’s legacy of encouraging millions of young people to develop skills and confidence through the scheme.
The earl’s message said: “Reading just some of the wonderful memories you have shared about your experiences of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and, in some cases, of meeting my father, has been truly uplifting.
“I think I may have said once that he was a man that once met, never forgotten. He had a unique ability to make a lasting impression in a remarkably short time.
Supportive
“He may have departed this world but his spirit and ethos lives on through his Award, through each and every life touched, transformed, inspired; then, now and in the future.
“Thank you one and all for helping to create such an extraordinary tribute.”
Philip was much more understanding and supportive than many people thought he would be when Edward dropped out of Royal Marines commando training in January 1987.
The Marines had reportedly sponsored him through Cambridge University on condition of future service, but Philip showed love and care when Edward quit after completing a third of the 12-month training course.
Edward will become Duke of Edinburgh when Prince Charles becomes king. Until then, his eldest brother holds the title.
Two days after Philip died, Edward told reporters at Windsor: “However much one tries to prepare oneself for something like this it’s still a dreadful shock.And we’re still trying to come to terms with that.
“But I have to say that the extraordinary tributes and the memories that everybody has had and been willing to share has been so fantastic.
“And it just goes to show, he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people.”