LONDON – Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, praised Prince Philip’s hard work, character and sense of humor in separate statements released on Monday.
Both praised Philip’s lifetime service to the United Kingdom and his wife, Queen Elizabeth II. William said his grandfather wanted the royal family to ‘get on with the job’.
Harry remembers Philip as “my grandfather: master of roast beef, legend of jokes and tough to the end.”
Philip passed away on Friday, but only a few months from his 100th birthday.
“My grandfather’s age of life was determined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and queen, and to our family,” William said.
William, who is second in line to the British throne, also said he would always be grateful that his wife, Kate, had so many years to get to know his grandfather.
In a statement released half an hour later, Harry also reminded their grandfather that he was “authentic himself, with a serious sharp mind, and that he could keep the attention of any room because of his charm – and also because you never knew maybe say next. ‘
Philip was known for expressing his views and sometimes making controversial comments, some of which were considered racist or insensitive.
“Meghan, Archie and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always occupy a special place for you in our hearts,” added Harry, who is reportedly in the UK.
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Harry’s return to Britain will be closely watched after he and his wife’s interview with media mogul Oprah Winfrey, which sparked the biggest crisis in decades for the British monarchy.
Their comments exposed a series of allegations about their lives before and after the split with the royal family, prompting accusations of racism within the royal family. After the interview, William publicly denied that the royal family was racist.
Harry and Meghan moved to the United States after retiring from their royal duties last year.
Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, will not attend Philip’s funeral, which is scheduled for Saturday, according to Philip Buckingham Palace officials.
Rumors of a rift between Harry and William are emerging in the summer of 2019. In June of the same year, Harry and Meghan confirmed that they were separating from William and Kate’s charity Royal Foundation to start their own initiative, Sussex Royal.
In last month’s interview with Winfrey, Harry said that his relationship with his brother was ‘space’ at the moment, but he hoped that ‘time will heal everything’.
Former British Prime Minister John Major said On Sunday, Philip’s funeral and mourning were an ‘ideal opportunity’ to repair rifts between the royal family and Harry.
