A rock of the royal family
New Zealand pays tribute
A loyal subject, a devoted husband, a loving father.
Those were just some of the ways that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, a complicated and at times polarising figure, is being remembered following his death at the age of 99. His death was announced by Buckingham Palace late on Friday New Zealand time.
The New Zealand Army will fire a 41-gun salute at noon today in his honour. The salute, which will take 40 minutes to complete, will be fired from Point Jerningham in Wellington. Depending on weather conditions, the sound from the gun salute may travel widely around the capital.
The saluting battery consists of four modified 25-pounder guns and will be manned by soldiers of the 16th Field Regiment Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
There will be also be a memorial service in Wellington after the Duke’s funeral has been held in the UK, which British media are reporting will be on Saturday.
The prince, who had been married to the Queen for 73 years, died at Windsor Castle.
He had recently returned home after a few weeks in hospital.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was awaiting news on what the Queen’s wishes were for Prince Philip’s funeral. New Zealand memorials will respect those wishes.
Ardern expressed New Zealand’s condolences.
‘‘Prince Philip will be fondly remembered for the encouragement he gave to so many young New Zealanders through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. In over 50 years of the award in New Zealand, thousands of young people have completed life-changing challenges through the programme.’’
New Zealanders would also note his enormous support for the Queen.
The New Zealand flag was flown at halfmast on government buildings yesterday, and will be again on the day of his funeral, as well as the day of New Zealand’s memorial service.
Floral tributes and cards can be left at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
Regional tribute locations may be organised through local councils.
There will be no state funeral in the UK and the royal family will have to take Covid-19 restrictions into account when planning the service.
But New Plymouth’s Barbara Larsen, 85, who has been collecting royal memorabilia since she was four, said Prince Philip didn’t want a ‘‘big flash funeral’’, so he would have been ‘‘happy with whatever’’.
The Queen wouldn’t have been ‘‘able to do what she’s done without the Duke,’’ Larsen said.
‘‘He was the backstop for her. She was lucky to have him.’’
Larsen, who has more than thousands of books and scrapbooks on royals from around the world, said she liked the ‘‘old Duke’’.
‘‘We knew he was going to die, but I wanted him to wait until he reached 100, so he could get a card from the Queen. June’s his birthday. It’s a shame.’’
Prince Philip came to New Zealand for the first time in 1953 and his last visit was in 2002. In between he accompanied the Queen 10 times, as well as other visits to Aotearoa when he came alone.
He was Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Field Marshal of the New Zealand Army and Air Chief Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
RSA president BJ Clark said the association remembered him as a ‘‘tower of strength’’.
As a naval officer and World War II veteran, Prince Philip enjoyed a unique relationship with the RSA, and he took a very real interest in veteran welfare and other veteran issues, not just in New Zealand but throughout the Commonwealth.
‘‘On his first visit to New Zealand in 1953, Prince Philip was presented with the RSA Badge in Gold, the organisation’s highest honour, by our then president, Sir Howard Kippenberger.’’
Karen Ross, the national director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award in Aotearoa, which Prince Philip originally founded 65 years ago in the UK, said the programme was ‘‘deeply saddened’’ by the news.
‘‘We remember his vision in creating the world’s leading youth achievement award and the immense contribution he made,’’ Ross said.
‘‘It was the highlight of many Gold Award holders here to receive their award from Prince Philip himself while on royal visits to New Zealand.’’
National Party leader Judith Collins said the Duke of Edinburgh’s dedication to the people of the Commonwealth ‘‘through many decades of service and charitable endeavours was truly impressive’’.
‘‘His legacy will live on for many more decades to come,’’ she said.
Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short said Prince Philip ‘‘dedicated his life to service – to his country, his family, and the Commonwealth – and his many achievements are a testament to his commitment’’.
The Duke of Edinburgh held a number of New Zealand honours and appointments. He was appointed an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand for services to this nation, to commemorate the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012. He was appointed an Extra Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in 1981 (the QSO badge featured prominently at the front of his extensive medal bar), and also received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
He was made Admiral of the Fleet during his solo visit here in 1958, and received his New Zealand army and air force titles to commemorate the Queen’s silver jubilee in 1977.
‘‘I wanted him to wait until he reached 100, so he could get a card from the Queen.’’ Barbara Larsen Monarchy enthusiast
The success of the 1953 tour was such that New Zealanders who were children at the time still remember its impact.