MSPs pay their respects to ‘fiercely intelligent’ Prince

NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday led tributes to the Duke of Edinburgh at the Scottish parliament, describing him as ‘deeply interesting and fiercely intelligent’.

Scotland’s political leaders conveyed their condolences to the Queen and Royal Family yesterday as Holyrood was recalled for just the fourth time in the history of devolution.

A one-minute silence was held in the debating chamber before the First Minister led tributes to Prince Philip, who died on Friday.

She said the messages and comments over the weekend following the announcement of the duke’s death show ‘the affection in which he was held in Scotland, across the United Kingdom and indeed around the world’.

Miss Sturgeon added: ‘On behalf of the people of Scotland, I express my deepest sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen, who is grieving the loss of her strength and stay, her husband, and also to the duke’s children and to the wider Royal Family.’ She went on to pay tribute to his contributions during the Second World War, and his lengthy service to the country and the Queen.

Miss Sturgeon also shared personal memories of Prince Philip.

She said: ‘I always enjoyed my conversations with the Duke of Edinburgh. He was a thoughtful man, deeply interesting and fiercely intelligent.

‘He was also a serious bookworm, which I am too, so talking about the books we were reading was often for me a real highlight.’

Miss Sturgeon noted his warnings over plastics and the environment – and reminded MSPs of the cherry tree he planted at the nearby Canongate Kirk.

Moving a motion of condolence, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We mourn his passing and extend our deepest sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen and her family.

‘We reflect on his distinguished wartime record, his love and sup

port for the Queen and his decades of public service to Scotland, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

‘Above all, we celebrate and we honour an extraordinary life.’

Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative leader at Holyrood, said: ‘I can’t imagine what it is like to be married to someone for 73 years and I can’t imagine what it is to have to get up and face every future day without them – what that absence feels like.

‘And I think the recognition of such a loss is what has led so many to look past the titles, and the 41-gun salutes and have such a sense of feeling for Her Majesty on such a human level.’

Miss Davidson described Prince Philip as a moderniser of ‘life as well as in work’ and pointed towards his decision to give up his career to stand by the Queen’s side as consort.’

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: ‘May I once again pay tribute to the life of the Duke of Edinburgh and

‘Public service to Scotland’

recognise his lasting contribution to our country, express my condolences to everyone mourning his passing, not just his own family but people right across the country and beyond, and extend my sympathies to everyone who has lost a loved one in this most difficult of years.’

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said his own family had benefited hugely from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, with his two sons participating. He said that Prince Philip’s ‘impact on millions of others has been utterly outstanding’ and is ‘changing lives forever’.

At Westminster Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the duke had ‘made this country a better place’ and vowed that a national memorial will be built in his honour.