We will bloody miss you, Phil
IN MAY 1985 The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Northamptonshire.
I remember it well because I was a f r esh- f aced r eporter on t he Wellingborough and Rushden Post and this was my first royal story.
I stood in the crowd as the Queen did a walkabout, Prince Philip three paces behind his wife, as protocol dictates
Then, as they got nearer, I was startled to hear the Duke say “COBBLERS!” to a well-wisher.
He was making one of his famous jokes because the county is famous for its footwear industry and shoemakers.
But it made a great headline, like scores of other gags and foot-in-mouth gaffes from Philip’s 70 years at HM’s side. Now, at nearly 96, he’s decided to retire f r om public duties and put his feet up occasionally – though they’re more likely to be in riding boots than carpet slippers. And I think the nation will really miss the curmudgeonly old consort and his off-colour asides.
The news prompted cynical rot from arch-republicans. “Old man who did nothing to do even less,” said one tweet.
More like: “Old man who’s done 22,191 solo engagements and 637 overseas visits, supported 785 charities and inspired 2.5 million youngsters who achieved a Duke of Edinburgh Award to take it easy in his twilight years.”
When young Philip Mountbatten married Princess Elizabeth in 1947 he told her mother he wanted to “weld the two of us into a new, combined existence that will not only be able to withstand the shocks directed at us but will also have a positive existence for the good”.
He certainly did that. But Elizabeth became Queen n five years later and his Navy career reer was torpedoed.
When their chilildren were born hee felt emasculated because use they did not take his name – they are not Mountbattens butt members of thee House of Windsor. He famously said: “I’m nothing but a bloody amoeba.”
But Philip accepted it and has been the Queen’s “strength and stay” all these years. When that struggle with his identity was portrayed so brilliantly in the hit Netflix series The Crown, I was delighted that younger generations would understand the sacrifices Philip made for Queen and country.
If he’s seen the acres of newspaper tributes this week he’ll have shrugged them off, laughing that we “blithering idiot” journalists will now have to rewrite his obituaries because he has not popped his clogs on the job.
The Queen, however, will cherish every bit of praise heaped on her husband and soulmate. We may eventually yg get used to her flying solo or, God forbid, with Airmiles Andy as her plusone. Bu But after 70 years the Elizab Elizabeth and Philip double act has gone. A And she will always miss the reassuring sound of his polished brogues – three steps behind.