In a statement, the palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, Her Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Her Royal Highness died peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Other announcements they will be made in a timely manner.The Royal Family joins people around the world to mourn their loss.
The Duke had been hospitalized at King Edward VII Hospital in London on February 17 after feeling unwell. The palace later confirmed that he was being treated for an infection. On March 1, he was transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, also in London, where doctors continued to treat the infection and perform tests for a pre-existing heart condition. After heart surgery, the duke was discharged from the hospital in mid-March.
Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, was the longest-lived British consort. He married Princess Elizabeth of that time in 1947, after a courtship that charmed a country that is still revolving around the ravages of World War II.
During her seven decades of service, Philip often accompanied the queen on royal engagements and led thousands of solo appearances. He once referred to “the most experienced plate revealer in the world”, while the queen praised him as “his constant strength and guide”.
The duke was known for his non-cuff remarks, which often displayed quick wisdom, but sometimes lacked the sign, sometimes spectacularly. Philip continued to make public appearances until the 1990s, retiring only in August 2017.
He has supported a number of philanthropic efforts and has been associated with about 800 organizations. He founded the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, a youth development program that operates in more than 130 countries and territories around the world.
After retiring, Philip spent much of his time on the Queen’s rural Sandringham estate. He was occasionally seen in the following years at private family events, such as the weddings of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Princess Eugenie at Jack Brooksbank, both at Windsor Castle.
Philip’s advanced age meant that his health had been the subject of much media attention in recent years. In December 2019, he was taken to hospital as a “precautionary measure” for what Buckingham Palace described as a “pre-existing” condition. He had previously been hospitalized several times for various reasons, including a hip replacement and the treatment of bladder infections.
The Duke was born to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921. He left Greece at the age of 18 months with his family when King Constantine was forced to abdicate after a revolt by war-torn Greek military forces. The family first moved to Paris and later, in 1928, to England.
Philip had a traveling childhood, educated differently in Britain, France and Germany.
He became a decorated naval officer for his service during World War II and, when peace returned, rekindled a previous friendship with Elizabeth, which quickly blossomed into a public love story.
In order to marry, the duke gave up his Greek title, became a naturalized British subject, and took the surname Mountbatten, derived from his mother’s family. The marriage ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in 1947. He and Elizabeth had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.
CNN’s Laura Smith-Spark contributed to the report.