Duke will join Queen for Queensferry Crossing opening

Philip has retired from solo public engagements but he'll still make it along to bridge's opening ceremony.

Published 24th Aug 2017

He might be standing back from many of his public roles, but the Duke of Edinburgh will still make it along to the grand opening of the Queensferry Crossing.

Philip will make his first official appearance since retiring from most of his solo engagements when he joins the Queen for the ceremony on 4th September.

The Duke bid farewell to his own royal jobs at the beginning of August when he celebrated the fundraising achievements of Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace.

But palace officials have stressed from time to time he may accompany the monarch at her events, and on September 4 he will join the Queen when she opens the new bridge over the Forth.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, will also attend the event alongside construction workers, and there will be a blessing by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland.

The Queen's Consort had announced in May he would be retiring from solo royal engagements, a decision which was fully supported by the Queen and was not medically related.

The monarch's public schedule continues as normal but other members of the Royal Family will step up in support of the Queen in her role as head of state.

When the Duke retired on August 2, he had carried out 22,219 solo engagements since 1952.

Over the decades he had made 637 solo overseas visits, including 229 visits to 67 Commonwealth countries, and 408 visits to 76 other countries.