Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, father of Prince Charles and the patriarch of a turbulent royal family that he sought to ensure would not be Britain’s last, died on Friday at Windsor Castle in England. He was 99. His death was announced by Buckingham Palace, which said he passed away peacefully, as was reported by the royal family on their official Twitter page.
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle,” the message stated.
Prince Philip had been hospitalized several times in recent years for various ailments, most recently in February, the palace said. Earlier it was reported that on March 16, Prince Philip was discharged from the hospital. He spent 28 days in the hospital, which was his longest hospitalization. Before, Prince Philip was treated at Edward VII Hospital in central London. His diagnoses are not disclosed yet.
His life spanned nearly a century of European history, starting with his birth as a member of the Greek royal family and ending as Britain's longest-serving consort during a turbulent reign in which the thousand-year-old monarchy was forced to reinvent itself for the 21st century. He was known for his occasionally racist and sexist remarks - and for gamely fulfilling more than 20,000 royal engagements to boost British interests at home and abroad. He headed hundreds of charities, founded programs that helped British schoolchildren participate in challenging outdoor adventures, and played a prominent part in raising his four children, including his eldest son, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.