Line of duty: Royal Navy’s loss was the Queen’s gain

In 1990 the Duke of Edinburgh wrote a note to his biographer admitting: ‘There has never been an “if only”, except perhaps that I regret not having been able to continue a career in the navy.’ For those of us fortunate to have witnessed many of Prince Philip’s numerous visits to Portsmouth, there was no doubt he felt he was at home when in the home of the Royal Navy.

He never seemed more at ease than when mixing with all ranks of the Senior Service. For it was during his years at sea

– he joined as the Second World War started in 1939 – he found his true vocation, as a naval officer.

You only had to watch him working a Guildhall Square crowd or as he prepared to board royal yacht Britannia in the naval base for his family’s annual summer holiday, to see he had an affinity with ex-servicemen, especially old sailors.

As a midshipman in 1940 he spent two months in the Portsmouth-based, First World War-built battleship HMS Ramillies. ‘We lived in fairly Spartan conditions,’ he said. ‘There was no air conditioning and we had a bathroom and just a space where we kept sea chests with our kit in it.’

In 1949 he was posted to Malta with his bride of two years, Princess Elizabeth, who became a service wife. The prince would natter about those days to naval veterans on his Portsmouth visits.

It was a life of duty and service which the people of this city observed when he returned time and again after his wife became Queen. His naval service prepared him well for a new regime of duty and service, as consort.

The Duke had a unique sense of humour which he used to put people at ease when he was working. His hard work, unquestioning support for the Queen and no-nonsense approach will be missed. One thing’s certain, we shan’t see his like again.