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A version of this story appeared in a special edition of CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls. Sign up here.
(CNN) – You may notice this week’s edition of Royal News is a little late. We’ll be honest – we had an entirely different version of the newsletter ready for you. But minutes before hitting send, we got the word from Buckingham Palace breaking the news of Prince Philip’s death.
The Queen’s longtime companion, the Duke of Edinburgh, was 99 years old.
Despite all the planning for this eventuality, it still came as a deep shock. He was the one constant by the monarch’s side – her closest adviser, confidant and partner throughout their 73-year marriage.
As the nation mourns his passing and reflects on how difficult it must be for the royal family today, one small comfort for the Queen may be how much time she got to spend with her beloved husband over the last 12 months. The couple took up residence with a small circle of household staff at Windsor Castle, west of London, as the coronavirus pandemic hit the United Kingdom last spring.
Theirs was an epic love story spanning decades, which started as a wartime romance. Marrying a few years after World War II, a young Princess Elizabeth acceded to the British throne, much earlier than either of them had anticipated, on the death of her father, King George VI.
Philip endured a difficult childhood, spending his early life in exile from his homeland of Greece, from where his family had fled 18 months after his birth in 1921, amid the turmoil of interwar Europe. By the time he met Elizabeth in 1939, he was every bit the alpha male – a dominant force and strong character as he became a decorated war hero and naval officer.
He devoted himself entirely to the Queen. Those personal sacrifices would define his legacy.
The Queen with Prince Philip in 2005.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
While he may not have been entirely comfortable about taking a secondary role to his wife, he did so without public complaint. It can’t have been an easy transition, and there were certainly ups and downs, but he found a public role for himself through his charitable work – particularly in conservation and through the Duke of Edinburgh awards. He founded that program, which rewards children for achievements in personal development and community involvement, in 1956.
Behind the scenes he was the family patriarch, making key decisions, such as where the children would go to school, or suggesting participation in documentaries to demystify the family for the public. More recently, he worked to handle family crises.
Philip was the only person that the Queen could be “normal” with and they were captured from time to time sharing a laugh together. Even their children have to follow royal protocols, acknowledging her position with a bow or curtsy when seeing her.
Without him, the monarchy as we know it today would not have looked the same. He performed an integral role in the family dynamics which the public were never privy to. His legacy is the lasting and real impact he leaves behind.
His death is a loss for the family, and the Queen no longer has her steadfast support. One thing to watch in the coming months will be how the monarchy evolves. Charles and William will likely step up even more for engagements on the 95-year-old sovereign’s behalf than they have been doing in recent years. Philip’s death signals a new era for the family and it will take time for them to adjust to a world without him.
TRIBUTES POUR IN
Mourners lay flowers and gather in front of Buckingham Palace.
Matt Dunham/AP
The world reacts
Tributes from world leaders are flooding in following the news of Philip’s death. US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, offered their condolences to the Queen, the royal family and the United Kingdom, saying they were keeping the royals “in our hearts during this time.” Messages of support and remembrance were also shared by the leaders of the Commonwealth. They included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who remembered the Duke as a man of “great service to others,” and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said “he embodied a generation that we will never see again.”
Funeral arrangements expected on Saturday
Funeral arrangements for the Duke of Edinburgh are expected to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Saturday, according to a royal source. CNN understands that plans for royal funerals have been in place for many years, but the ceremonial elements have had to be altered due to current pandemic restrictions in the UK. On Friday, the College of Arms confirmed that Philip’s body will not lie in state, but rest at Windsor Castle ahead of a funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. A spokesperson for the UK government’s Cabinet Office also asked the public not to gather at royal residences or lay floral tributes there, due to the pandemic.
A sign announcing the death of Prince Philip is placed on the gates of Buckingham Palace in London.
Ian West/Pool/Reuters
PRINCE PHILIP: A LIFE IN PICTURES 1921 - 2021
While primarily known for his marriage to the Queen, Prince Philip was an extraordinary figure in his own right.
In his seven decades of service, he often accompanied the monarch on royal engagements and conducted thousands of his own solo appearances before stepping back from public life four years ago.
Prince Philip was born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark. His family left Greece in 1922 and settled in Paris after his uncle, King Constantine I, was overthrown.
Fox Photos/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip is dressed for a production of “Macbeth” while attending school in Scotland in July 1935.
Prince Philip sits with his fiancee, Princess Elizabeth, in July 1947. He had become a naturalized British citizen and a commoner, using the surname Mountbatten, an English translation of his mother’s maiden name. He was also an officer of the British Royal Navy and fought in World War II.
PA Images/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a photo with their children Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew in 1979.
Prince Philip was born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark. His family left Greece in 1922 and settled in Paris after his uncle, King Constantine I, was overthrown.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
AP
Prince Philip, second from right, enjoys a family vacation in Mamaia, Romania, in 1928.
Prince Philip, second from left, is seen with schoolmates at the MacJannet American School outside of Paris.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Fox Photos/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip is dressed for a production of "Macbeth" while attending school in Scotland in July 1935.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Prince Philip was the youngest of five children and the only son. After his parents' separation in 1930, he was sent to England and raised there by his maternal grandmother and uncle.
Prince Philip sits with his fiancee, Princess Elizabeth, in July 1947. He had become a naturalized British citizen and a commoner, using the surname Mountbatten, an English translation of his mother's maiden name. He was also an officer of the British Royal Navy and fought in World War II.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
Douglas Miller/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Prince Philip practices cricket while in the Royal Navy in 1947.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth married in November 1947.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Keystone/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Philip and Elizabeth hold their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne in August 1951.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
Hulton Deutsch/Corbis/Getty Images
Prince Philip jumps off water skis on a beach in Marmaris, Turkey, in 1951. The photo was taken during his last posting as commander of the HMS Magpie, a Royal Navy ship.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Keystone/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth dance in Ottawa in October 1951.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Fox Photos/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth were on a tour of the commonwealth when her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952. She was next in line for the throne.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Prince Philip waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after his wife's coronation in June 1953.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
PA Images/Getty Images
Prince Philip plays polo for Cowdray Park in the semifinals of the Roehampton Cup in 1954.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
Central Press/AFP/Getty Images
The Queen, center, and Prince Philip, left, pose with a tiger Philip killed on a hunting trip in India in 1961. They are seen with the Maharaja and the Maharani of Jaipur.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip sails during the Cowes Regatta in August 1962.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Keystone/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip laughs as the Beatles fight over the Carl Alan Award he presented to the band in March 1964.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Fox Photos/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip, accompanied by sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, wave from a Buckingham Palace balcony during a parade in June 1964.
The royal couple return to Buckingham Palace after a ceremony in June 1965.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Central Press/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip leave Westminster Abbey in April 1966.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
George Freston/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Prince Philip competes in a bicycle polo match in August 1967.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images
Prince Philip paints during the filming of the documentary "Royal Family" in 1969.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Lichfield/Getty Images
Prince Philip and his daughter, Princess Anne, prepare a barbecue on the Balmoral Castle estate in August 1972.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Tim Graham/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show in April 1976.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
PA Images/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a photo with their children Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew in 1979.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Julian Parker/UK Press/Getty Images
Prince Phillip fishes in a Scottish loch in 1993.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images
Prince Phillip hunts at the Sandringham estate in 1994.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Tim Graham/Pool/Getty Images
Prince Phillip tours the London Stock Exchange in 1998.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Anna Zieminski/AFP/Getty Images
Former South African President Nelson Mandela chats with Prince Philip in November 2000.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Prince Philip rides a mini motorbike at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2005.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
Chris Radburn/PA Images/Getty Images
Prince Philip competes in the Sandringham Country Show's horse driving trials in 2005.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip attend the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in June 2011.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince Philip visits Sherborne Abbey during his wife's Diamond Jubilee tour in May 2012.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Anthony Devlin/WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Queen presents Prince Philip with New Zealand's highest honor, the Order of New Zealand, at Buckingham Palace in June 2013.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Steve Bardens/Getty Images
The royal couple arrives at the Royal Ascot horse races in June 2014.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Philip signs the guest book at Hillsborough Castle in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in June 2014.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Philip smiles as he visits an Auxiliary Air Force squadron in Edinburgh, Scotland, in July 2015.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Phil Walter/Getty Images
Prince Phillip and his grandson Prince Harry attend the Rugby World Cup final in October 2015.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Queen and Prince Philip wave to guests in June 2016, during celebrations for her 90th birthday.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Prince Philip feeds a banana to an elephant in Dunstable, England, in April 2017.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Hannah McKay/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Philip makes his final public appearance before his retirement in August 2017, attending a parade of the Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace. The event also marked an end to Philip's 64 years as captain general, the ceremonial leader of the Royal Marines.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Ralph Heimans/Buckingham Palace Handout/PA Wire via Getty Images
This portrait, painted by Ralph Heimans, shows Prince Philip in the Grand Corridor of Windsor Castle. It was unveiled in December 2017.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Owen Humphreys/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Philip attends the wedding of his grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Kensington Palace/Twitter
Prince Philip poses with the wedding party after Harry and Meghan's wedding in May 2018.
Prince Philip speaks with Sir David Attenborough ahead of an Order of Merit luncheon in May 2019.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Steve Parsons/PA Wire/Pool
The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a photo in June 2020, ahead of Philip's 99th birthday.
Photos: Prince Philip: Decades in public life
Chris Jackson/Pool/AP
The Queen and Prince Philip look at a homemade anniversary card that was given to them by their great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in November 2020.
Photos: Prince Philip's life in pictures
Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Philip, right, leaves a London hospital in March 2021. He had a heart procedure a couple of weeks earlier.
UK PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT
Shortly after Buckingham Palace’s announcement on Friday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to the podium outside Downing Street to honor the Duke of Edinburgh. Here’s his full statement:
It was with great sadness that a short time ago I received word from Buckingham Palace that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has passed away at the age of 99.
Prince Philip earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth and around the world.
He was the longest serving consort in history, one of the last surviving people in this country to have served in the second world war at Cape Matapan, where he was mentioned in despatches for bravery and in the invasion of Sicily, where he saved his ship by his quick thinking and from that conflict he took an ethic of service that he applied throughout the unprecedented changes of the post war era.
Like the expert carriage driver that he was he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.
He was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world long before it was fashionable.
With his Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme he shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people and at literally tens of thousands of events he fostered their hopes and encouraged their ambitions.
We remember the Duke for all of this and above all for his steadfast support for Her Majesty the Queen.
Not just as her consort, by her side every day of her reign, but as her husband, her “strength and stay,” of more than 70 years.
And it is to Her Majesty, and her family, that our nation’s thoughts must turn today.
Because they have lost not just a much-loved and highly respected public figure, but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather and, in recent years, great-grandfather.
Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary, Her Majesty said that our country owed her husband “a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know” and I am sure that estimate is correct.
So we mourn today with Her Majesty The Queen, we offer our condolences to her and to all her family and we give thanks, as a nation and a Kingdom, for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
“He is someone who doesn’t take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
The Queen expresses her admiration for her husband on their golden wedding anniversary in 1997
