Reactions and condolences following the death of Queen Elizabeth’s husband, British Prince Philip, followed one after another on Friday, to greet the life of the prince, who died a few months before his 100th birthday.
First to speak following the death of Prince Philip, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the prince’s “extraordinary life and work” outside Downing Street, offering his condolences to Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family.
“We are in mourning, together with Her Majesty The Queen, we offer our condolences to her, to her family” and “the nation and the kingdom offer their thanks for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh”.
Prince Philip of Greek and Danish descent died Friday at the age of 99 and died after prolonged hospitalization in March following heart surgery. To marry the Queen, he had to give up his title of Prince of Greece and Denmark to take British nationality and become Duke of Edinburgh. In 2009, he broke the record for the longevity of the spouses of British kings and queens and he has to his credit no less than 22,000 official public engagements in which he has participated since 1952.
Buckingham Palace announced on Friday the death of the “beloved” husband of the British Queen, expressing the “deep sorrow” of the latter. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle,” the statement added, adding that “other announcements will be made when the time comes.”
Reacting to the prince’s death, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, whose country is part of the Commonwealth, ordered the flags to be half-masted. Prince Philip “embodied a generation we will never see again,” he said.
“The entire Commonwealth family comes together in sorrow and gratitude for the death and life of Prince Philip. God bless you, on behalf of everyone here in Australia, ”he added in a statement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Prince Philip’s “remarkable” career, while Berlin said he had lived “a long life in the service of his country”. For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will be “greatly missed in Israel”.
For his part, former US President George W. Bush said that “throughout his long and remarkable life, he devoted himself to noble causes and others. He represented the UK with dignity and brought boundless strength and support to the ‘British crown.
