Flowers laid at Sandringham in memory of Prince Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh has passed away at the age of 99
Last updated 9th Apr 2021
Tributes are being paid to Prince Philip, who's passed away at the age of 99.
The Duke of Edinburgh retired from public duties in 2017 and spent much of his time after at Sandringham.
At Sandringham Estate, flowers are being laid in his memory.
Sandringham Estate has confirmed they now won't re-open on Monday (12 April) and barriers are being put in place to prevent large crowds from forming at the Royal residence.
His Royal Highness, who was due to turn 100 next month, is being remembered fondly across Norfolk.
Tributes are flooding in for the Duke.
North West Norfolk's MP, James Wild said:
"This is very sad news and today we remember Prince's Philip's incredibly rich life and his emmence service to our coutnry. Norfolk and Sandringham and partilcurly Wood Farm was a very special place for him. My deepest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family for their loss."
Norwich North MP Chloe Smith said:
"I was saddened to hear of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, he will be remembered for his long public service and support of Her Majesty, The Queen."
North Norfolk MP, Duncan Baker said:
"I met Prince Philip c1998 having taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme - which has changed countless thousands of young people's lives for the better. It was a moment that I will remember forever.
"His service and dedication to this country has been immense and will never be forgotten.
"My condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal family during this sad time."
South West Norfolk MP, Liz Truss said:
"Very sad news about Prince Philip who gave tremendous service to our country. My thoughts are with the Queen and her family."
King's Lynn Minster is to stay open over the next few days to allow people to grieve.
Father Angela Rayner Assistant Curate said:
"We welcome those who'd like to visit the church, light a candle, say a prayer and pay their respects. Priests and volunteers will be available to anyone who would value a conversation. Everybody is welcome.
"Please do pray for Elizabeth our Queen, so that she may know God's comfort."
Reacting on behalf of the Diocese of Norwich, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher said:
"There is sadness at the news of the death of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. We offer our deepest condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and all the Royal Family.
"The Duke of Edinburgh has been a tireless source of support and strength to The Queen through the 73 years of their marriage and the 69 years of her reign. He has also been an inspiration to very many people in this country and across the Commonwealth through his own charities and organisations.
"Over seven decades, millions of young lives have been helped and shaped through the establishment of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. I benefited from the scheme as a young person and being a Gold Award holder set me up with many important skills for life.
"The Duke of Edinburgh had a great love of Sandringham and Norfolk and his commitment to the area meant that he was held in high esteem and affection by the people of this diocese. We join with all those who will give thanks to God for such a full and distinguished life of service."
The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, said:
"On this sad day for Her Majesty The Queen we at Norwich Cathedral join the rest of the people of this diocese in expressing our condolences as she mourns the death of her husband His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. We assure her and all the members of the Royal Family of our continuing prayers at this time.
"Through more than six decades The Duke of Edinburgh has served alongside Her Majesty The Queen, giving her unwavering support and offering outstanding service to the life of our nation and to the whole Commonwealth. He also holds a special place in the affections of the people of Norfolk, having spent most Christmases at Sandringham and supported so many events in the county over the years.
"As we honour the memory of His Royal Highness and give thanks for his life of service, Norwich Cathedral will be open for all to come to pay their respects, to lay flowers, light candles and attend worship."
The outgoing Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green said:
"It was with great sadness that I heard the news of the death of His Royal Highness.
"Prince Philip served this country with dedication and commitment and will be remembered across the world for his loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty the Queen.
"Closer to home, the Prince was a familiar face at Sandringham and was known for his love of the estate and beautiful Norfolk countryside, choosing to retire there when he stepped back from public duties in 2017.
"Norfolk Constabulary plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of the Royal Family at Sandringham and I know that my colleagues in the constabulary take great professional pride in this responsibility.
"As a county, Norfolk enjoys a special relationship with the Royal Family through the Sandringham Estate. Whilst the loss of His Royal Highness will be met with sadness by so many, we can also know that the county we call home and the countryside and places we love have also been a place of refuge, retreat and peace for him for many years.
"My deepest condolences and sympathies are with Her Majesty the Queen and the entire Royal Family at this very sad time."
Speaking on social media, Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue said:
"It is with great sadness that we hear the news of Prince Philip. He was a inspiration to us all with his passion for modernisation, climate change and on young people through the D of E scheme. What a extraordinary person who will never be forgotten."
East Anglian Air Ambulance has also paid tribute:
"We are saddened to hear the news of the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to Her Majesty The Queen and all of The Royal Family at this difficult time."
Norfolk's Chief Constable Simon Bailey said:
"The death of The Duke of Edinburgh is of great sadness to all of the country.
"He has demonstrated unwavering support to Her Majesty The Queen.
"We hold great admiration for His Royal Highnesses' contribution to the lives of young people through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award along with his support of hundreds of organisations.
"With Sandringham being a much-loved country retreat for the Royal Family, our county has a close bond with royal tradition. Today, we join with people around the world mourning his loss."
In Cambridgeshire, flags are also flying at half mast to mark the death of the Prince of Edinburgh.
Julie Spence, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire said:
"I would like to convey to Her Majesty The Queen, the deep sympathy felt by the whole of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on hearing the sad news of the death of HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh.
"While the whole country mourns, this can be as nothing to the feelings of The Queen who has lost not just her husband of 73 years, but also her most steadfast support throughout the whole of her reign, as the longest serving British Consort. And of course, to his family who have lost a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
"We will remember him with love and affection for the frequent visits he has made to this county, which included the period he served as Chancellor of Cambridge University. We also reflect on how he was a man ahead of his time, in particular for his interest in, and promotion of, the natural world - particularly through his work as President of the World Wildlife Fund. This is a passion he has handed down to his children and grandchildren - most notably HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duke of Cambridge - where his legacy will undoubtedly continue.
"We will also remember him for the contribution he has made to so many people's lives through initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. This scheme has given so much to so many generations of young people bequeathing to them his own love of outdoor activity, adventure, and service to others - setting many on their path for life."
Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police Nick Dean said:
"It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness was a naval war hero who bravely served this country through the military and then for more than 70 years as the husband of our monarch, Queen Elizabeth.
"Prince Philip was an example of how to conduct your life in service of the public and showed huge dedication to both Queen and country. His contribution to this country will never be forgotten.
"Our thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen at this time and also Prince Philip’s family and friends."
Prince Philip was born in 1921
Prince Philip of Greece was born 10 June 1921 in Corfu to Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg.
Prince Philip attended school in Scotland
The Prince was one of the first pupils at Gordonstoun boarding school in Moray, Scotland, attending from 1933-1939. He was the first of three generations of royals to attend the school, with Prince Charles boarding in the 1960s, and Princess Anne's children enrolling in the 1990s.
The engagement of Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth
Prince Philip's engagement to Princess Elizabeth was announced on 9 July 1946, after he asked permission from her father, King George VI. In order to marry into the British Royal family, Prince Philip became a British citizen, and renounced his Greek title in favour of Mountbatten, the anglicised version of his mother's name. He also agreed not to invite his sisters to the wedding, as they were all married to Germans and tensions were still high following the war.
The Royal Wedding
Prince Philip married Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 in Westminster Abbey. He received new titles, including the Duke of Edinburgh, for which he is best known, and his Royal Highness. It is estimated around 200 million people tuned into the BBC radio broadcast of the wedding.
First time father
In 1948, Prince Philip became a father for the first time when Princess Elizabeth gave birth to Prince Charles. Princess Anne was born two years later.
Consort to the monarch
King George VI died 6 February 1952, making his oldest daughter Princess Elizabeth, Queen. This made the Duke of Edinburgh consort to Queen Elizabeth II. The coronation took place on 2 June 1953 and was an important feature in making television a mainstream medium, with over 20 million people tuning in to watch.
The Duke of Edinburgh award
In 1956, Prince Philip launched the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, which aims to prepare young people for adult life by developing essential skills, confidence and resilience. Today, hundreds of thousands of young people complete the award every year across 144 nations.
Meeting JFK
In 1961, a banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in honour of American President John F Kennedy. This was the President's last visit to Buckingham Palace before he was assassinated two years later. Prince Philip attended his funeral.
A family of six
In 1960 Prince Andrew was born, followed by Prince Edward in 1964. This completed the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's immediate family.
Royal Family documentary
In 1969, a television documentary entitled 'Royal Family' aired to an audience of over 30 million in the UK, before being sold worldwide, achieving over 350 million views. However, the Queen had the documentary banned and it has not been shown on TV in the UK since 1977. The documentary offered insight into the lives of the Queen and her family in an attempt to revive public interest in the Royals.
The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer
Prince Philip's oldest son, Prince Charles, married 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981. Almost 1 billion viewers tuned in across 74 countries to watch the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral. The wedding was considered hugely important because whoever Prince Charles married would one day become Queen.
Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral
The world was shook when Diana, Princess of Wales died suddenly in a car accident in August 1997. Hundreds of thousands of well wishers lined the streets on the day of her funeral, which saw Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Diana's brother accompany Princes William and Harry in walking behind the funeral car.
Diamond wedding anniversary
In 2007, the Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary- 60 years of marriage! They have since made it to their platinum anniversary, celebrating in 2017.
A family man
Prince Philip has eight grandchildren, including heir to the throne Prince William. He also has nine great-grandchildren and counting, with two more on the way in 2021.
Tipping his hat to a lifetime of service
At the age of 96, Prince Philip carried out his final solo public engagement in August 2017, before tipping his hat in acknowledgement of a lifetime of service.
Prince Philip dies aged 99
Prince Philip passed away at the age of 99 on the 9th April 2021. The Duke's funeral took place on 17 April 2021 in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.