Prince Philip dies at 99

The Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of the Queen, has died at the age of 99.

Buckingham Palace announced on 9 April that Prince Philip had died peacefully that morning at Windsor Castle.

A long life of service

Prince Philip was the longest-serving consort in British history. He married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, and was at her side throughout her reign, which began in 1952.

He carried out more than 22,000 solo engagements before retiring from public duties in 2017, at the age of 96.

Early life

He was born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921, a prince of Greece and Denmark. His family was forced into exile when he was a baby, and he grew up in France, Germany and Britain.

He was educated at Gordonstoun in Scotland and joined the Royal Navy, serving with distinction in the Second World War. He was mentioned in dispatches for his actions at the Battle of Cape Matapan in 1941.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

He founded the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in 1956, which has helped millions of young people develop skills and confidence through challenges such as expeditions and volunteering. It now operates in more than 130 countries.

He was also patron of hundreds of organisations and a strong supporter of science, engineering, conservation and sport.

Tributes

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said he had inspired the lives of countless young people. Gun salutes were fired in cities across the UK, and flags were lowered to half mast.

The palace has asked people not to leave flowers or gather at royal residences because of the coronavirus pandemic, and to make donations to charity instead.

A plain-speaking man

Prince Philip was known for his sense of humour and his blunt remarks, some of which caused controversy. He was also seen as a steadying influence on the royal family and a devoted husband.

He was admitted to hospital in February and underwent heart surgery in March, before returning to Windsor.

The funeral

A funeral will take place at St George's Chapel, Windsor. Because of coronavirus restrictions, it will be a smaller event than originally planned, and the public have been asked not to attend.

The Queen and Prince Philip had four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.