PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have paid tribute to Prince Philip this afternoon, saying “thank you for your service you’ll be greatly missed”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote the poignant message to Harry’s grandfather after his death was announced this morning.
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A short message on their Archewell website, set against a dark background, says: “In loving memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. 1921-2021.”
It adds: “Thank you for your service… you will be greatly missed.”
The Duke of Edinburgh, who had been married to the Queen for 73 years, passed away “peacefully” at Windsor Castle this morning, aged 99.
Just after midday, the Union Flag was lowered to half-mast outside Buckingham Palace and on public buildings across the UK as the world mourns his death.
It comes as..
- Queen shares poignant photo of Philip as she talks of ‘deep sorrow’
- Philip will NOT have State Funeral as Brits told to stay away due to Covid
- Harry wants ‘nothing more’ than to be with the Queen – but will he and Meghan fly back?
- Boris Johnson pays tribute to ‘extraordinary’ Prince Philip
- Prince Philip’s life in pictures
- Queen to enter ‘8 days of mourning’ for Prince Philip
- How Prince Philip’s early years saw him flee Corfu on a warship
- This Morning taken off air as Queen announces Philip’s death
The Duke’s death was confirmed with the age-old tradition of placing a notice on the railings of Buckingham Palace.
Earlier we told how Harry is to fly back to Britain to attend his grandfather’s funeral as he wants “nothing more” than to be with the Queen.
The highly-respected Press Association this afternoon reported it’s “likely Harry will be among the small number of mourners” at the private service.
However, while Harry is poised to return, it is currently unclear if Meghan will join him even though she reportedly wants to be by his side.
Meghan, 39, is currently pregnant – undoubtedly needing to take advice from doctors before embarking on the 12-hour flight from California.
Her Majesty, 94, today shared a poignant photo of Philip in a heartfelt tribute to her “strength and guide”.
The tragic news is a huge blow to the Queen, with the Duke widely known to be the backbone of the Royal Family.
If Harry returned to the UK for the funeral, it would be the first time he has joined the royal family since Megxit.
And also since his and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in which they accused the royal family of racism.
According to insiders, Harry is now preparing to fly back to be with them for the first time since quitting the UK in March 2020.
A royal source told the New York Post: “Harry was extremely close to his grandfather.
“He will, of course, be there, no matter how difficult relations are between the Sussexes and the family.”
The Duke of Edinburgh’s body will lie at rest at Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George’s Chapel – where Harry and Meghan wed in 2018.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the “extraordinary” Prince Philip, and said the whole country would mourn the passing of a “much-loved and highly respected public figure”.
Tributes have poured in from around the world for the hardest-working member of the Royal Family after serving his country for more than seven decades.
As the consort of the Queen, Prince Philip is entitled to a state funeral.
But in keeping with the duke’s no-fuss public image, it is believed that he had asked not to be given a full state funeral.
