Prince Philip
As the news of Prince Philip’s death makes waves in the British Isles and throughout Europe, Central Florida’s British expats are taking time to remember the Duke of Edinburgh.
The husband of Queen Elizabeth II was 99 when he “passed away peacefully” April 9 at Windsor Castle, following a recent monthlong hospitalization.
Though Orlando-area Brits don’t live in the U.K. anymore, many grew up with the royal family appearing in local headlines and casual conversation, and one has interacted with Prince Philip firsthand.
Retired police K-9 handler and dog trainer Darryl Payne recalls working in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to ensure security for the royal family.
“On a few occasions, [Philip] would say hello. And if he was in a good mood, he might say a little joke, normally at your expense,” Payne said. “I’d have dog hair all over me and he’d say, ‘Looking smart today, officer, where did you get your hairy coat?’ or, ‘I can see who the good-looking one in this partnership is,’ while looking at my black Labrador.”
Payne recalls how Philip’s laughable gaffes were known to raise eyebrows, but that the prince had a caring side and would notice things the queen didn’t, such as a child who wanted to give her a flower.
“Philip lifted the child over the barrier, took her over to the queen and said, ‘Now,
there you are. You can give your flower to the queen,’ “Payne said. “His passing was a shock because it’s like having a grandparent die … He’s someone that’s been a constant throughout life.”
Orlando City SC founder Kay Rawlins, who now serves as the president of Orlando City Foundation, grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and remembers how ingrained the royal family was in British life.
“Growing up, there would be visits from royal family members to different things … One of my brothers met Princess Anne. They were kind of the background music to your life,” she said. “My granny on my mom’s side was a huge royalist, so she would collect clippings out of the newspaper.”
Rawlins said Prince Philip is remembered as someone who had a talent for “putting his foot in his mouth” but that he learned how to be a diplomat to support the queen.
“The other side of him is a person who has stood by the queen through so many things, including
JOSHUA C. CRUEY/ORLANDO SENTINEL
wars,” she said.
“He learned, over the years, to be a diplomat and to be that support system for a wife who got thrown into being queen way before she was ready.”
PAYNE/COURTESY
Philip and Queen Elizabeth were married for more than 73 years, so Rawlins said feels grief for the monarch.
“She’s had this person in her life for so long. She relied very much on him for advice,” Rawlins said. “On the other side of it, what an incredible life he’s led … Let’s celebrate his life.”
Jackie Walker, the owner of St. Andrews Tavern in Altamonte Springs, said the royal family has been significant to her own family.
“Our family collects all of the royal coins. We’ve all read the biographies of the royal family, we know the royals going far back in history … The royal family is something we always followed,” she said. “[The queen] always stole Philip’s thunder. He sort of stood in the background.”
Walker’s mother, Wendy McCormick, said she was “sorry” that Philip is gone and remembers a time when he was much younger and admired by the masses.
“Everybody loved him when he was young because he was so handsome,” McCormick said. “He had a good life, he led an excellent life … He was a good father, and good to the queen.”