Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Friday subtly paid tribute to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth’s husband, hours after his death was confirmed at the age of 99.
Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had not yet issued a formal statement on Harry’s grandfather’s death, the couple acknowledged the legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh on their Archewell website.
“In Loving Memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh 1921-2021,” the website now reads.
“Thank you for your service … You will be greatly missed,” the message continues.
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Britain’s Prince Philip died in Windsor Castle on Friday. He was 99.
(AP)
Philip’s departure was confirmed by the palace in a statement shared Friday.
“It is with deep sadness that Her Majesty the Queen announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle this morning,” the statement read.
An announcement on the Duke’s death was placed on the gates of Buckingham Palace on Friday.
During the closure of England’s coronavirus, he stayed with the Queen (94) in Windsor Castle, west of London.
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On February 16, Philip was admitted to a London hospital after feeling unwell. On March 3, he underwent a procedure for an existing heart condition in the St. Bartholomew’s Hospital before being transferred to King Edward VII Hospital on 5 March and finally released on 16 March.
Prince Harry and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, attend the Fields of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on 10 November 2016 in London, England.
(Getty Images)
Philip married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and is the longest-serving royal companion in British history. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
A former naval officer and avid polo player, Philip had strong health until old age, but over the past few years he has had several health problems.
At the time of his death, Philip’s full title was His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, Knight of the Garter, Knight of the Thistle, Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the British Empire , Companion of the Order of Australia, Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, Privy Counselor.
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He was the second person ever to bear the title ‘Duke of Edinburgh’, the first being his great-great-uncle, Prince Alfred Ernest Albert. His son, Prince Edward, will now accept the title.
Prince Philip speaks right to Prince Harry as they depart for the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, near London, England, on Saturday 18 May 2019.
(Steve Parsons / Pool via AP)
Just one month before Philip’s death, Prince Harry admitted how close he was to his grandparents during his and Meghan’s sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan, 39, also noted that when the news of Philip’s hospitalization became known in March, the couple called the queen by telephone to enter.
During the interview on March 7, the couple made bombastic inquiries about the British royal family. One of the biggest takeaways was the Duchess of Sussex’s claim that a member of the royal family had expressed ‘concern’ about the color of her baby’s skin before the birth of their son, Archie.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tribute to the Duke of Sussex’s grandfather, Prince Philip, on their Archewell Foundation website.
(REUTERS / Toby Melville)
Later outside the camera, Harry explained to Winfrey that his grandparents, the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were not the ones who questioned Archie’s skin color.
Harry and Meghan moved to California last year after announcing their departure as senior members of the British royal family. When he discussed the couple’s departure with Winfrey, he said he did not blind his grandmother.
“I’ve never blinded my grandmother,” Harry said. “I have too much respect for her.”
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Harry also spoke lovingly of his grandfather in an interview last February. In a “The Late Late Show” performance that aired on February 25, he said he communicated regularly with Philip and Queen Elizabeth II – even on Zoom.
When James Corden asked the 36-year-old if his grandmother knew how to use the online chat service, Harry told the British TV host: “Yes, both my grandparents know it.”
He continued: ‘They zoomed in a few times, they saw it [my son] Archie runs around, “he explains. But my grandfather, instead of pressing ‘Leave Meeting’, he’s just going ‘- and Harry pretends to lock his laptop.
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“I’m like ‘goodbye’ while I press,” Harry says before imitating Philip shutting down the laptop.