Along with the Royal Family and the world, everyone at London Greek Radio, (LGR), mourns the loss of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, former Prince of Greece & Denmark.
Prince Philip – the Duke of Edinburgh – died at the age of 99 on 9th April 2021.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”
Tributes have been pouring in from around the world.
The President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, said via Twitter, “It is with great sadness that I received the news of the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a close friend of Cyprus. My deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Her Majesty The Queen, the @RoyalFamily and the people of the UK for their loss.”
Greece’s President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, tweeted, “The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu, served his country with devotion for many decades. I extend my warm condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the members of the @RoyalFamily and the British people.”
Archbishop Nikitas of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain also expressed their condolences, sorrow and mourning to Her Majesty and the United Kingdom. The Archdiocese has directed its Christ-loving clergy and laity to pray for the repose of the soul of Prince Philip and His Eminence has announced a three-day state of official mourning in parishes of the Archdiocese, as a sign of respect.
Prince Philip of Greece was born on 10th June 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu. His birth certificate shows the date as 28th May 1921, as Greece had not then adopted the Gregorian calendar.
His father was Prince Andrew of Greece, a younger son of King George I of the Hellenes. His mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, was the eldest child of Prince Louis of Battenberg and sister of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
Even though Philip was born into the Greek aristocracy, (he was the grandson of the country’s King George I), his childhood was a far cry from the opulence of the usual royal upbringing.
The king himself was shot dead in 1913 by a crazed anarchist with a loathing for the establishment. A proper political motive for the killing was ruled out at the time, with the assassin dismissed as just an intoxicated vagrant. Philip’s uncle took the crown as Constantine I, but his rule was to prove shockingly turbulent.
In 1922, Constantine I was forced from the throne by a military uprising, and the entire royal family came under threat. They were forced into exile on a British boat, with the infant Philip transported in an orange box. They went to France, beginning a life of travelling and uncertainty for the boy.
Prince Philip married Princess Elizabeth in 1947 in front of 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey.
In 2017, Prince Philip and the Queen became the first British monarch and consort to reach their 70th wedding anniversary.
Together they had four children, eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
LGR understands that Prince Philip will lie at rest in Windsor Castle in line with his wishes following his funeral, which will be at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Following a number of health scares in recent years, it is thought Prince Philip has had a lot of say in his funeral.
According to reports, Prince Philip wished for only family, friends and heads of state from Commonwealth countries to attend the funeral.
The College of Arms has confirmed that the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral will not be a state funeral and the public has been asked not to attempt to attend any of the funeral events due to the pandemic.
London Greek Radio (LGR) is deeply saddened on learning of this news and we join the Royal Family in mourning the loss of HRH, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
1921 – 2021. May he rest in peace.
