Memories of a Prince
Since a young
age I had a keen interest in history, and the royal family. So the news of the
death of Prince Philip aged 99, although unexpected, was still a shock.
His image
was a stereotypical ‘Grumpy Old Man’ with a repertoire of gaffes that joyfully
kept reporters happy, but there was far more to the man who walked two paces
behind the Queen. His humour, at times gruff and front-page worthy, was I
feel intended to bring some relief to nervous faces.
I had been
fortunate to see and photograph him over the years, and have some lovely
memories.
I can
remember first seeing the Royal couple in Hull in July 1987. Armed with my
trusty (outdated!) 110 film camera, I stood outside the City Hall to capture
some grainy images. I’d just turned 16 and only done a few local royal visits
so didn’t have the knowledge to know what to do and what not to so I stuck my
hand out for him to shake, he glided past……..!
Alongside
the Queen, they toured the country thousands of times, visiting towns and
cities. Growing up in the 70’s, I remember absolutely nothing of Silver Jubilee
but the picture books I have bring the events to life, so finding myself alongside
the barriers to see them as they stopped by was, and still is a huge joy.
You could
always hear an audible sigh when people discovered the Prince was on their side
of the crowd, and that must have been disheartening for him but his legendary
wit came in and he charmed the day. His forte was the older ladies who he would
have in creases laughing. He was also particularly very good at lifting
children (or getting the nearest detective to!) and pointing them in the
direction of the Queen to pass on their flowers! Even taking him over them to
her himself. And we are talking a man in his 80’s here, lifting children over a
barrier!
I met the Prince
a few times, some intended, a few not!
At the 1993
Battle of the Atlantic celebrations in Liverpool, he and the Queen went on walkabout
on the dockside by the Maritime Museum. I took the chance to present the Duke
with one of my photos of him (showing him Carriage Driving) ‘Oh’ he looked puzzled
then threw a curb-ball ‘Do you carriage drive?’ Well part of me was wanting as
a cheeky 21 year old to say Yes the horse is parked over there! But I didn’t, I
muttered a monosyllabic ‘’No Sir’’ and off he trundled.
In February 1995
He visited Leeds to reopen the refurbishments at Kirkgate Market (he had been a
previous visitor to the Famous Indoor/ Outdoor Market halls) He was
in his element. In his well-worn Mac/ Coat he was guided around various stallholders,
accompanied by the then Lord Mayor of Leeds (a petite Lady) Stopping by a clothing
stall, with an array of Nightwear hanging up, he stopped. Reached out his hand
to one of the Nighties – He Pointed to it and looked directly at the Lord Mayor – ‘Is
this the kind of thing you wear then??’ to her embarrassment but to her credit
she didn’t shirk and laughed saying NO, He then saw a group of older ladies by
a sandwich stall, pointed to the baguette sandwiches and said ‘ They’re big
ones aren’t they!’ (Yes it was a bit like a Carry-on film at times with the
Prince!!)
In 2016 for the
Queen’s 90th Birthday in Windsor, some friends and I stayed over,
leaving our hotel early we thought we had an excellent spot (although with
crowds opposite who were all bedecked in union jacks with balloons), we began to
realise our hopes were being dashed by the second as The Queen went over to
them.
Along came
Prince Philip……………..
He had been
overheard previously asking a lady in the crowd where she came from ‘ France’
she replied ‘What are you doing here, who are you running away from!!’ he
joked. Cue my turn…………
I’d framed a
picture of the Queen ten years earlier on her 80th Birthday in the exact same place to
present to her. ‘Your Royal Highness’ (in a style akin to a posh telephone voice),
Would you be so kind to pass this onto Her Majesty, some memories I hoped she
would like. He looked at the picture. ‘I don’t want that, and neither does the
Queen. She knows what she looks like!!’ and my audience was over. Accompanying
him was the Mayor of Windsor (again a lady, there’s a theme of Lady Mayors isn’t
there!) She leant forward took the photograph from me and said ‘I’ll make sure
it gets passed on’
When you got
past the wit, you saw a man who was more than meets the eye. Yes he didn’t suffer
fools gladly, he was amused when he saw the Queen was landed with some local in
the crowd who wanted to share their life story with her! But as we have seen in
the many tributes, there was more to the man that did meet the eye. His passion
for engineering (to be seen at his funeral with his coffin travelling in a Land
Rover he helped to design) Conservation, and above all his loyalty to Queen and Country.
For nearly 73
½ years, he was married to Queen Elizabeth. Their 1947 wedding was a fairytale
that post war England loved. He was by her side throughout their lives, through
the good and bad times. He retired in August 2017, to enjoy his retirement
mostly at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate.
During
lockdown they were together mostly at Windsor Castle, and that’s where he died.
His legacy will be a great one. That legacy will continue to inspire and educate
people. His loyalty to the crown was undeniable. As the Queen said in 1997, at
their Golden Wedding celebrations ‘Quite simply he was my strength and stay all
these years’
For Queen
and Country he was there.
We salute
you Sir!
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