THE DUKE’S FAMILY LEGACY

THE PROUD DAD BELIEVED HIS GREATEST LEGACY IS THE CHILDREN HE LEAVES BEHIND

Despite his incredible life of service, the Duke of Edinburgh’s greatest legacy lies with the four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren he leaves behind. And the prince, who counted himself first and foremost as a family man, proudly boasted that raising daughter Anne, 70, and sons Charles, 72, Andrew, 61, and Edward, 57, with the Queen was his proudest achievement.

“I am, naturally, somewhat biased, but I think our children have all done rather well under very difficult and demanding circumstances and I hope I can be forgiven for feeling proud of them,” he gushed during a speech at his golden wedding celebrations in 1997.

And while the Queen has reigned over the Commonwealth for 69 out of the 73 years of their married life, it was Philip who remained the head of their family. The prince was reportedly an incredibly hands-on dad who did his best to give his kids a normal life and oversaw their education. “The Queen wears the crown, but her husband wears the trousers,” royal biographer Gyles Brandreth wrote.

Despite Philip and his eldest son sharing an often difficult relationship after Charles

admitted he felt like he was given a “prison sentence” when his dad sent him to his old school Gordonstoun to “make a man out of him”, Charles revealed how close they had become in later years. In paying tribute to his “dear Papa” on April 10, the Prince of Wales told reporters outside Clarence House “as you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously”.

His only daughter, Princess Anne, who was reportedly Philip’s favourite child due to their similar temperaments, admitted her life “won’t be the same” without her beloved dad. “My father has been my teacher,

my supporter and my critic, but mostly it’s his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate,” she said in a statement released on April 11.

Prince William, 38, also revealed that Philip was very present in the lives of the youngest royal family members. “I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their greatgrandpa coming to collect them in his carriage,” he shared along with a picture of Prince George, 7, with Philip.

But none will feel the loss more so than the Queen. “[Elizabeth] described [Philip’s death] as having left a huge void in her life,” Prince Andrew told reporters.

• By Kylie Walters

Philip was upset he was unable to pass on his Mountbatten surname to his kids, who are known as Windsor. “I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his children,” he once said. The Queen and Philip compromised on Mountbatten-Windsor in 1960.

The princess and Jack Brooksbank welcomed their son August Philip Hawke on Feb. 9. Philip was happiest when barbecuing for his family at Balmoral. “He cooks, the Queen sets up the table. There are no staff that come out to serve,” former housekeeper Sheena Stuart said. HIS NAME LIVES ON Like Princess Eugenie (left), Zara Tindall paid special tribute to her grandfather by giving her newborn son Lucas the middle name Philip. Sadly, it’s believed the prince never met either of his new namesakes due to the UK’s social distancing rules.

Harry revealed in a chat with James Corden that he had stayed in touch with his grandfather over Zoom since moving to the US.

Philip was also close with his grandchildren and shared a special bond with William and Harry after their mother’s death.