William and Harry pay tribute to the Duke
Harry and William recall his kindness and humour as they pay their respects
LOOKING ACROSS with a glint of pride in his eyes which any great-grandfather will be able to relate to, the Duke of Edinburgh sits next to his great-grandson, Prince George.
Kensington Palace shared the heart-warming photo yesterday as Prince Philip’s “mischievous sense of humour” was recounted by his family following his death at the age of 99 on Friday.
In the image, posted on the official Twitter account of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Prince sits beside the Duke on the box seat of a carriage while Philip holds the reins and a whip.
The young future King, dressed in shorts and a blue knitted jumper, is smiling and clutching an open book.
The photo of the-then twoyear-old George was taken in
Norfolk by his mother Kate and was accompanied by William’s touching tribute to Philip.
In his message, William said his three children, George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, hold “special” memories of their great-grandfather.
He said: “I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!”
William’s brother, the Duke of Sussex, also paid a fond tribute to Philip and said he will be “always remembered” by his greatgrandson Archie MountbattenWindsor.
Harry, who has returned to the UK for the funeral, said: “You will be sorely missed, but always remembered – by the nation and the world.”
The Duchess of Sussex, who is due to give birth to the couple’s second child in the summer, is in California after she was not given medical clearance by her doctor to travel to the UK for the Duke’s funeral on Saturday.
THROUGHOUT THEIR lives, he was a constant presence to offer guidance for their public life with the Royal Family.
Touching personal insights into the humour and kindness of the Duke of Edinburgh were revealed yesterday in tributes from the Duke of Cambridge and his brother, the Duke of Sussex.
Prince William described the Duke as an “extraordinary man”, while Prince Harry said Philip was “a rock for Her Majesty the Queen with unparalleled devotion”. The Royal brothers are the first of Philip’s grandchildren to publicly honour his memory.
Harry light-heartedly summed him up as “master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right till the end”.
William spoke candidly about Philip’s relationship with Kate and expressed his gratitude for the “kindness he showed her”.
He also highlighted the special bond between the Duke and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who would have “special memories” of being picked up in a horse-drawn carriage by their “great-grandpa”.
William pledged to uphold his grandfather’s wishes and continue, along with wife Kate, to support the Queen and “get on with the job”.
Over the weekend, Philip’s four children spoke movingly about the loss of their father and how the Queen was being very “stoic” after losing her husband of 73 years who died peacefully on Friday.
William said about Philip: “My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family.
“I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but
his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days.”
Philip and the Queen provided a safe haven for William and Harry in the days following the death of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, as they grieved at their grandmother’s Royal residence, Balmoral in Scotland, in 1997.
It is said the Duke later suggested William and Harry walk behind their mother’s coffin with him and other senior Royals as the funeral cortege made its way through the streets of London.
William said: “I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her.
“I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!”
He added: “My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support the Queen in the years ahead. I will miss my grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job.”
The Duke of Sussex signed off a touching tribute to his grandfather, who died at the age of 99, with the Latin phrase Per Mare Per Terram – a motto of the Royal Marines.
Harry, who has arrived in England from the US ahead of Saturday’s funeral, and Philip have both held the ceremonial title of Captain General of the Royal Marines.
Meaning “By Sea, By Land”, the motto symbolises the Royal Marines’ dual role of fighting both on-board ships and ashore.
Philip had the title for 64 years before it was passed on to Harry in 2017, who held the position for three years. Harry stood down as a senior working Royal last year for a new life in the US with Meghan.
He said: “”He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa – master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right till the end.”
Harry is quarantining ahead of the funeral at his former home of Frogmore Cottage, at Windsor Castle, after arriving in the UK without his pregnant wife, who was advised not to travel.
Master of the barbecue, legend of banter, cheeky right till the end. Prince Harry’s light-hearted tribute to his ‘grandpa’.