Prince Philip, Beloved Husband To Queen Elizabeth II, Dead At 99
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, has died at age 99, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
The Duke passed away peaceful at Windsor Castle early on Friday, April 9.
"Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss," the statement concluded.
The new of the beloved royal's death comes after the Duke was released from the hospital last month following a heart procedure related to a pre-existing condition.
He was first admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital on February 16 as "a precautionary measure," when he felt unwell before he had the heart procedure in St. Bartholomew’s and returned to King Edward VII’s. At the time, he remained "in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days," Buckingham Palace announced earlier this month.
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The 28-day stint was the longest he had been hospitalized.
"Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a press conference. "He was an environmentalist and a champion of the national world long before it was fashionable, with his Duke of Edinburgh inspire scheme, he shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people.
"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 for every day of her reign but as her husband, her strength and stead of more than 70 years and it is too her majesty and her family that our nation's thoughts must turn today."
Queen Elizabeth II met Philip in 1934 when she was just 13 years old, and the pair tied the knot in 1947, five years before she became Queen; he was the longest-serving royal consort in history. They share children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward together. The royal couple also has eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
He retired from royal duties in 2017 at the age of 96 but still made the occasional public appearance.
Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921, and preparations were reportedly underway to mark his 100th birthday in June.
