“It is with deep sadness that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away peacefully this morning in Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be given in due course. The Royal Family joins the people around the world who are in mourning for the loss ». Thus Queen Elizabeth II today announced the death of Prince Consort Philip of Edinburgh after 73 years of living together while at Buckingham Palace the Union Jack, the English flag, was lowered at half mast as a sign of mourning and on the entrance gate was hung a sign with a few simple words: “His Royal Highness died peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.” Sign then removed to avoid gatherings.
Among the first to express condolences for the death of the prince he first Boris Johnson with a press statement in front of his Downing Street office: ‘We will remember him for his contribution to the nation and his solid support for the Queen. As a nation and as a kingdom we thank the extraordinary figure and work of the prince “added the premier, defining the duke” a loving husband, a loving father and grandfather who has inspired thousands of young people “. “Philip was one of the last survivors in the country to have fought in the Second World War, and he had an ethic of duty that he applied in all the unprecedented changes of the post-war era.”
“An extraordinary public servant is gone”: these are the words of Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labor Party. Sir Keir recalled that the Duke of Edinburgh dedicated “his life to the nation and will be remembered above all for his extraordinary commitment and devotion to the queen”.
The condolences of European royalty and heads of state. King Philip of Belgium brought the condolences of the Belgian royal family in a private message to Elizabeth. King Carl Gustaf of Sweden said he was, together with Queen Silvia, “deeply saddened to learn of the disappearance of his royal highness the Duke of Edinburgh.” Prince Philip, continued the Swedish sovereign, “has been a great friend of our family for years, a relationship that has had a profound value for us, the way he served his country will remain an inspiration for all of us”
The condolences were joined by the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella. “The memory of a figure who for over seventy years has offered his service to the Crown and the United Kingdom with exemplary dedication is alive in a multitude of people around the world, accompanying the evolution of his country with an open spirit and innovative. On the occasion of his visits to Italy, Prince Philip has always shown sincere friendship towards the Italian people, who cherish a grateful reminder of his deep admiration for the artistic and cultural heritage of the beautiful country. Please accept, Majesty, the expressions of my sympathetic condolences and the senses of my personal consideration ».
“I want to express my sincere condolences to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth,” French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter, “to the royal family and the British people for the death of his royal highness, Prince Philip, who lived a lifetime exemplary, characterized by courage, sense of duty and commitment towards young people and the environment ». German Chancellor Angela Merkel also expressed her condolences: “The death of Prince Philip fills me with great sadness”, she said, “her friendship with Germany, her righteousness and her sense of duty will remain unforgettable.”
In a statement, US President Joe Biden said: “On behalf of all the people of the United States, we send our deepest condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family and all the people of the United Kingdom. for the death of his royal highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh ‘. “The impact of his decades of devoted public service,” Biden added, “is evident in the valid causes he raised as a patron, in the environmental efforts he supported, in the members of the military he supported, in the youth he inspired, and much more. His legacy will live on not just through his family, but in all of the charitable endeavors he has shaped. Jill and I keep the Queen and Prince Philip’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in our hearts during this time. ‘ Former President George W. Bush also issued a statement in his own name and his wife Laura, praising Prince Philip’s devotion to worthy causes. “Laura and I are fortunate to have appreciated the charm and wit of his company, and we know how much he will miss him,” Bush said, offering his heartfelt condolences to Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the family with his wife.
“The whole nation will join in sadness” commented former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair while the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was “saddened to learn of the death of her royal highness”, extending her solidarity with the Queen, the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom. The European institutions also received a message of condolence from the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli: “My thoughts are with the queen, the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom”.
“I send my deepest condolences on behalf of my country and the Turkish nation for the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II” are the words of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, president of Turkey, who entrusted a tweet your condolences. “I share the pain of the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom.” Through the press service of the Kremlin, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Queen Elizabeth, wishing her “courage and fortitude” to face this “irreparable loss”. “The name of His Royal Highness is associated with numerous important events in the recent history of your country” added Putin, “he was rightly respected by the British people and enjoyed international prestige.”
The British Parliament was reconvened in an extraordinary session to commemorate the figure of the prince in the House of Commons. Parliament was on Easter break and should not have returned to meet before Tuesday. The electoral campaign rallies suspended for the administrative session scheduled in various territories of the Kingdom in May: an appointment that includes, among other things, the vote for the renewal of the local Parliament of Scotland and to elect the mayor of London. Westminster Abbey greeted the Duke of Edinburgh with 99 strokes, one for each year. On Monday, the British Parliament will commemorate Prince Philip, while the British Government will suspend its less important activities for a few days as a sign of mourning.