obituaries

Prince Philip Has Died

Prince Philip.
Prince Philip. Photo: UK Press Pool/UK Press via Getty Images

Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died. Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that the Duke of Edinburgh “passed away peacefully” earlier this morning at Windsor Castle, where he and the Queen had temporarily relocated amid the pandemic. He was 99 years old.

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband,” reads the statement from the royal family.

Born in 1921 into both Greek and Danish royalty, Philip renounced his titles when he and then-Princess Elizabeth wed in 1947. Through 74 years of marriage, Philip served longer than any other royal consort in British history. Together, he and Elizabeth have four children — Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward — as well as eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. In 2017, Philip retired from his public duties.

While Philip enjoyed robust health into older age, he did suffer a number of health complications in recent years. Most recently, he was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in February “after feeling unwell” for a short period of time, in what the Palace called a “precautionary measure.” A number of days later, it was confirmed that he was being treated for an infection, and the Palace later announced that he “underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition.” He was eventually discharged on March 16, and sources at the time said he appeared to be in “good spirits.”

Philip’s death comes amid a time of royal turmoil, fueled by an explosive tell-all interview that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry gave to Oprah Winfrey in early March, during which they discussed the difficulties of royal life, including how deeply entrenched racism is within the palace and British tabloid media.

While Philip is entitled to a state funeral, he will not be receiving one, according to royal expert Omid Scobie — a decision “in line with his wishes.” Rather, the Duke will lie at Windsor Castle up until his funeral at St. George’s Chapel, the date of which has not yet been announced. Because of the pandemic, the public has reportedly been asked not to attend.

This post has been updated with additional information.

Prince Philip Has Died