A Job Well Done!

Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, died on Friday at 99, prompting a collective look back at his fascinating life.

Friday was also the 16th anniversary of his eldest son Prince Charles’ wedding to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. 

Obituaries for the late Duke of Edinburgh walked through the late royal’s life from his birth in 1921 to his service in World War II and his marriage to Queen Elizabeth II.

He was born on the Greek island of Corfu on a dining room table, according to The Washington Post, and as an infant was “smuggled out of Greece in a fruit crate” while his father fled execution,  The New York Times reports.

The obituaries were also filled with interesting little nuggets about him, including that he “carried British passport No. 1 (the queen did not require one),” as the Times wrote.

Philip instituted “efficiencies” at Buckingham Palace, including installing intercoms, and while he loved sailing, he “was said to have so little patience with horse racing that he had his top hat fitted with a radio so that he could listen to cricket matches when he escorted the queen to her favorite spectator sport,” the Times said. He was also the “first member of the royal family to do a televised interview,” according to NBC News.

His large personal library was “particularly illuminating” of him and his interests, the Post wrote, as it reportedly included “560 books on birds, 456 on religion, 373 on horses and 352 on the navy and ships.” Speaking of which, a report in The Sun, once claimed Philip was an “avid reader of books about UFOs and aliens.”

Of course, obituaries for Philip also took note of his reputation for offensive sexist and racist comments, with BBC News writing that, “he could be rude, startlingly so at times, there is no doubt.” Yet there were also those who spoke of appreciating his frankness and even his blunt way of expressing himself as his being “authentic and genuine”. Some have remarked about his kindnesses and how he treated everyone, regardless of who they were or what their job or station in life may have been, with the upmost respect. Historian Sarah Gristwood told NBC, “He helped create the model of the British royal family that has enabled it to continue forward into the 21st century. We may have lost sight of that now, but I hope we’ll remember him for it.”

Ninety nine years is a lot of life and opportunity to both make mistakes and to touch so many people as Prince Philip surely did. Upon reflection now after his passing, many have commented that when he entered a room, or came to an event, it was not the people of note to whom he first gravitated, but rather the more common people who were there. It was reportedly his idea for the Queen to hold her now renowned “garden parties” on the grounds at Buckingham Palace where all manor and sorts of people from all walks of life were invited to mingle with the Royal family and enjoy the grounds.

His only daughter Anne, The Princess Royal, made a lovely tribute to her father:

There is no doubt Prince Philip’s death will leave an unfillable hole for the members of the Royal family. The Queen herself has been reported to have remarked that the passing of her husband of 73 years as “having left a huge void” in her life. She said of him in years past “…he is quite simply my strength and stay.” She can take some comfort though, in knowing that, whatever struggles his early life may have brought to him, the end was a peaceful one for him. His daughter-in-law Sophie commented on Sunday:

Prince Charles made a public statement on behalf of the family about his father on Saturday.

Giving a little back story on Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wedding, the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles officially tied the knot in a civil ceremony on April 9, 2005, at Windsor Castle. Since they were both divorced, they had a civil marriage ceremony followed by a blessing at Windsor Castle instead of a church service.

Although Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip did not attend the civil wedding ceremony for their son, they were both were present at the Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel.

St. George’s Chapel will also be the site of Prince Philip’s funeral which will take place this Saturday, April 17th, at 3pm U.K. time, 10AM on the U.S. East coast, and at 7AM on the West coast.

He was a real ‘one of a kind’ and his passing marks the end of an era. He will truly to be missed.