Prince Philip Passes Away At 99

Prince Philip, husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, dies at 99. "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully early morning, Friday, 9th April  2021 at Windsor Castle," Britain's royal family announced. The House of Windsor has lost its patriarch. Philip married his third cousin Elizabeth in 1947.

He became British consort to the sovereign after King George VI died in 1952. 

The Duke of Edinburgh had taken up more than 22,000 solo engagements, 637 overseas visits, delivered an estimated 5,493 speeches and worked as a patron to almost 800 organizations.

Prince Philip, the Greece-born royal who as the husband of Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving consort to a British sovereign, died Friday. He was 99.

"His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle," the royal family announced. "Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."   

After the announcement, flags were lowered to half-staff, and the BBC News channel played "God Save the Queen."

The Duke of Edinburgh's death came 12 days before Queen Elizabeth's 95th birthday on April 21, two months before what would have been Philip's 100th birthday on June 10 and on the 16th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla. Under a long-standing plan known as "Operation Forth Bridge," his death ushers in a period of national mourning.

The royal family webpage was replaced with a tribute page in black in memory of the prince, who was married to Elizabeth for nearly 74 years.

"The official website of the Royal Family is temporarily unavailable while appropriate changes are made," the royal.uk site said.

The House of Commons tweeted that it will sit at 2:30 p.m. on Monday to pay tribute to the duke.

Philip had insisted that he did not want the "fuss" of a state funeral at Westminster Hall, according to The Times of London. The Royal College of Arms announced that Philip's body will lie at rest in Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral in St George's Chapel, in line with custom and his wishes. It said there will be no state funeral and no lying in state. It also said the date of the funeral will be announced.

"The funeral arrangements have been revised in view of the prevailing circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and it is regretfully requested that members of the public do not attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral," it added in a statement.

Buckingham Palace added: "Those wishing to express their condolences are asked to do so in the safest way possible, and not to gather at Royal Residences." The family also asked the public to make donations to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes. Condolence messages can be posted at the royal.uk website.