Friday, April 9, 2021

A familiar face has left this world

Sad news today, Prince Phillip slipping away before he reached his 100th birthday.  He was always there, occasionally letting slip a politically wrong sentence but we expected no less from him and laughed gently. And when they come to write his biography they will be there, those slips of speech, one of the 'old guard'.  But he has been the Queen's consort for a very long time, doing his duty as she has  with loyalty and dignity.

For a time early on in her reign he was the champion of the environment, he never quite had a place in changing things but his son Charles carried on the work.

It will be a great loss for the Queen, and my sympathy goes out to her but she has many great grandchildren too keep her amused and I am sure, for I can feel a pricking in my thumbs, that his passing will be mourned by thousands of people, even now as they bring flowers to Windsor Castle. 

A rose for Prince Phillip of the United Kingdom.  Or Duke of Edinburgh.

 


10 comments:

  1. Yes Thelma I have no doubt he has been a huge support to her throughout her life and she would have done less well without him - particularly where her family are concerned. She did well early in their marriage to pass the bringing up of the children over to him as she did. Perhaps Gordonstoun was a mistake for Charles but mostly I suspect his influence was good and it took a lot of the burden away from her.

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    1. Think Gordonstoun would have upset any child, though I quite like Charles he is a bit of a wimp now. Phillip was quietly there for the Queen. Endless discussion on the radio about him but I suppose it takes the mind of the pandemic.

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  2. I liked Prince Phillip. I cannot imagine what changes are waiting in the wings for when the Queen kicks the bucket, but they sure as hell will not be for the good. Everything has hit us like a steam train in this year. 'May you live in interesting times' is a curse come true.

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    1. Yes what will be the change, it is almost as if the generations born over the last 100 years have become weaker. Charles will carry forward the ceremony, but will he be the last in a dying tradition. William seems quiet and the minors just kicking around in the background.

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  3. Most of us in the US are fascinated with the Royals and have a tender spot in our hearts for them. The Prince lived a long life and he did it with dignity and grace, albeit with a few gaffs, but that made him more like us. My sympathies to your great country and to his family.

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    1. Thank you for a very gracious tribute to the Royal family, it is very American and treasured for that. As always many people in this country have mixed feelings about royalty but republicanism maybe a step too far. We love the spectacle of golden carriages, high stepping horses and guardsmen. But the truth of the matter is now Phillip has gone and sometime in the future when the Queen goes, their old fashioned virtues will be lost.

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    1. Yes they both worked very hard for the country, and the Commonwealth, now of course something that doesn't really exist.

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  5. Sadly I think Tom's comment is spot on. I always admired Philip - he was the Queen's Rock and she will feel so lost without him - anyone would after being together so long. He was a brilliant horseman and carriage driver, did things that he cared greatly about (a good use of influence) and was human, with his occasional social gaffe.

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  6. Yes Jennie, there has been plenty of coverage of him with four in hand horses, they all loved their horses. He said of his daughter Anne, the only thing she loved, was creatures that ate hay and farted!

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