Politics

Princes William, Harry pay tribute to late Duke of Edinburgh

London, Apr 12 (EFE).- The United Kingdom’s Prince William and Prince Harry on Monday paid tribute to their grandfather Prince Philip following his death at the age of 99 at the end of last week.

William, the Duke of Cambridge, praised the “service” rendered by Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, to Elizabeth II, his wife of over 70 years, as well as to the country and the Commonwealth.

“I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job,” he said in a statement.

“I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days,” the statement read.

He said he was thankful that his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge “had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her.”

“I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!” the 38-year-old added.

“My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead,” he continued.

In a separate statement on Monday, William’s younger brother Prince Harry said: “He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm — and also because you never knew what he might say next.”

“He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the Monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end.”

Harry has arrived in the United Kingdom from Los Angeles for the funeral and has to be quarantined for 10 days, The Sun tabloid reported on Monday.

Normal proceedings in the House of Commons, the United Kingdom’s lower house of parliament, were put on hold so that MPs could pay their tribute to the late Duke.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke of Philip’s “tireless, unstinting service to the Queen, the Commonwealth, the armed forces, the environment, to millions of young people and not-so-young people around the world.”

Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral would take place April 17 in St. George’s Chapel on the ground of Windsor Castle with attendance limited to 30 members of the royal family. EFE

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