(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Prince Philip has announced that he will retire from all public royal duties after 70 years of dedication to Britain and Queen Elizabeth. The Queen has given her 95-year-old husband her “full support” to step down.
What Happened?
The Duke of Edinburgh announced his retirement at a secret emergency meeting called by Buckingham Palace which was attended by other royals including his daughter Princess Anne.
The decision was reached by Philip himself and he plans to step back shortly before he and the Queen reach their 70 year platinum wedding anniversary in November.
Staff from the royal household were called to London yesterday, which caused speculation regarding the health of the Queen and her husband. Thankfully, Philip – Britain’s longest serving consort in history – is doing just “fine,” and has decided to end his royal duties after supporting Queen Elizabeth since 1947. The Queen has vowed to continue her public engagements for as long as she lives.
Buckingham Palace released a statement this morning: “His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, The Duke has the full support of The Queen.
“The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron, President or a member of over 780 organisations, with which he will continue to be associated, although he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements.”
Philip and Elizabeth, in standard Royal fashion, were back at work an hour after the announcement, attending an Order of Merit service at St. James’s Palace.
Philip has appeared in more than 22,000 solo engagements and given more than 5,000 speeches during his long career.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Philip was born into the Greek and Danish royal families. He was born on June 10, 1921.
