‘PRINCE DRESSED AS WAITER AND SERVED US BOTH FOOD!’
A NORTH Staffordshire man who counted Prince Philip as a friend for four decades has paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.
Rene Schoop, aged 81, was a friend of the Duke for 40 years and competed with him at carriage driving events.
Mr Schoop, who was originally from Switzerland, lived at Calton near Waterhouses for 43 years, said: “I started my first carriage competition in Kelso in 1980 where I was introduced to Prince Philip by fellow competitor George Bowman.
“I speak five languages. Prince Philip responded to me in German. He told me he did not have many opportunities to use his German language.
“If I spoke to him alone he always spoke to me in German. I last spoke to him at Catton Park near Burton on Trent. It was the day he retired from official duties and he was there as a spectator.
“I have been lucky to be able to supply Prince Philip with carriage driving equipment since 1991. He helped me a lot and other fellow competitors with advice on the sport of carriage driving.
“In 1980 Prince Philip organised with the Federation Equestrian International to hold a four-in-hand world carriage driving event.
“Prince Philip invited officials, competitors and organisers along with me as a translator to a lavish buffet at Windsor Castle.
“Prince Philip noticed a member of the British team and myself did not join this very long queue of people waiting to fill their plate. He asked me ‘why don’t you join the queue?’. I said we would rather wait.
“After a few minutes Prince Philip arrived dressed as waiter with two plates full of food and asked if the service was to our approval! I replied: ‘We will tell you after the dessert’.
“People asked me after the event how did you manage that? My reply: ‘you will never know’. That is the kind of man he was.
“We have been competing together for 28 years and would meet up around eight to 10 times a year and we held regular discussions. He was a very nice man. We had arguments and different views sometimes, which he seemed to love.”