Saturday 17 April 2021

HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh : A Tribute

 

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 Armed with my trusty (outdated!) 110 film camera, I stood outside the City Hall to capture some grainy images.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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