Princes Harry and William lead latest tributes to 'extraordinary' Duke of Edinburgh

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Prince Philip 'shaped and protected the monarchy'

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Prince Philip and Prince William (L-R) attend the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand against Australia at Twickenham in London, Britain October 31, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duke of Edinburgh attend the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand against Australia at Twickenham. Reuters.

Neil Murphy

Apr 12, 2021

Prince William and his brother Harry have led tributes to the Duke of Edinburgh who passed away on Friday, aged 99.

William, the Duke of Cambridge, said Prince Philip was an extraordinary man whose life had been defined by service to his country, the Queen and the Commonwealth.

"I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job," William, 38, said in a statement on Monday. "My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation."

Flowers are placed as tributes outside Buckingham Palace, following the death of Britain's Prince Philip in London. His funeral is planned for 17 April. EPA/ANDY RAIN

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"My grandfather's century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family."

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, also released a heartfelt tribute to his grandfather on his Archewell foundation website.

He said Philip would be sorely missed by his wife Meghan, son Archie and their unborn daughter.

"He was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end," Prince Harry said. "Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself.

"He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!'"

Harry arrived in London from California on Monday and will quarantine in accordance with UK coronavirus guidelines before Philip's funeral at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

Buckingham Palace said Meghan, who is pregnant, will not attend on the advice of her doctor.

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during a Humble Address expressing the sympathies of the House on the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in a socially distanced hybrid session at the House of Commons in London on April 12, 2021. Lawmakers across the UK convened Monday to pay tribute to Prince Philip, whose death on April 9, aged 99, has left a "huge void" in the life of Queen Elizabeth II. The UK parliament in London was returning a day early from its Easter break to pay respects to Philip, who spent 73 years at the side of Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
/ AFP / PRU / - / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS — Prime Minister Boris Johnson making a statement on death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in a socially distanced hybrid session at the House of Commons. AFP.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson led tributes in parliament to Philip, who he said had sustained the monarchy throughout the extraordinary Elizabethan age.

"He shaped and protected the monarchy," Mr Johnson said.

"He provided one particular service that I believe we in the House [of Commons] know in our hearts was the very greatest of all: In the constant love he gave to Her Majesty the Queen, as her liegeman of life and limb, in the words he spoke at the Coronation - he sustained her throughout this extraordinary second Elizabethan age, now the longest reign of any monarch in our history," he said.