Tributes to Prince Philip made me proud of the UK
Iwas running when I heard the news that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh – otherwise known as Philip ‘The Greek’ and the Queen’s long-term love – who was a father and grandfather, had passed away at home following a bout of illness and hospital admissions. I was running along Southsea and it stopped me in my tracks – literally.
I don’t know why exactly. It’s not like I knew him.
Despite making so many royal documentaries in the past, none of them had a focus on Philip as such, but he was always there.
He was the Queen’s right-hand man, the love of her life, her confidante.
Wherever the Queen was, he was, somewhere, usually by her side or in the background.
My heart just went out to her. Not because she’s the Queen, but because she’s a woman who has spent her entire life with one man and in a blink of an eye he’s gone.
I find it hard to get my head around that – I always have.
Mortality is a weird thing and I can’t begin to imagine how she must feel and I try really hard to not let my own brain ‘go there’ when I think about how fragile life is.
He was here, one of the most important figures in the monarchy and now he’s gone. Just like that.
I was amazed and humbled by the public’s response to his death, which included outpourings of condolences and messages of respect from everyone.
They were n ot just from famous people, but from the general public who called in to radio stations to share their stories or memories of the Duke and how radio and TV stations paid tributes that went on for days.
I just found it all very respectful and I was proud that we are the nation we are.
We’ve had a tough time lately – made tougher by another lockdown, more covid news and now the death of the Duke of Edinburgh – what a time.
But as usual, we’ve done what we always do in times of crisis – we’ve pulled together, we’ve rallied around and proven that, once again, we’re united.
I pray his funeral this weekend is just as respectful.