It is with great sadness The Chairman of Dorset Council, Cllr Val Pothecary,
shares news from Buckingham Palace that HRH the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, beloved husband of Queen Elizabeth II died today, Friday 9 April 2021 at the age of 99.
The following statement was issued by the press secretary at Buckingham Palace:
“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. Further announcements will made in due course.”
The flag was raised to full-mast earlier today before being lowered to half-mast at County Hall, Dorchester, in honour of Prince Philip, where it will remain until the day of the funeral, which will take place on 17 April.
An online book of condolence is available from Buckingham Palace for people to pay their respects.
People without access to the internet wishing to leave a message in the book, can call the customer service team at Dorset Council on 01305 221000 who will record it for them.
From Monday our libraries will reopen where people without computer access may use the council’s computers to send their own message of condolence. To comply with current COVID rules, we’re asking people to phone ahead and book a computer session.
The nation will now begin a period of mourning for 10 days before a private funeral takes place at Windsor Castle.
Cllr Val Pothecary, Chairman of Dorset Council, said:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family as we mourn the loss of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and on behalf of Dorset Council I would like to offer them our heartfelt condolences. We give thanks for His Royal Highness’s wonderful life and years of devotion to serving the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. He has been an inspiration to us all.”
Angus Campbell, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Dorset, said: ‘It is with deep sadness that we heard of the passing of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh this morning.
“The country, and the county, are now in deep mourning in remembrance of an extraordinary man. He has dedicated 70 years of his long life to support Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second, our longest ever reigning Monarch.
“The Duke has been a remarkable pillar of strength to Her Majesty, who Herself has been an extraordinarily strong and constant foundation of love, strength and hope for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations.
“I know that all our hearts go out to Her Majesty and the other members of the Royal Family at this most difficult time. We have lost a man who has been a symbol of extraordinary support and strength for the Crown. A man who will be most terribly missed by us all, and who has given us, and our country, so very much service over so many years.”
Prince Philip was the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and the oldest ever male member of the British Royal family.
He retired from his royal duties on 2 August 2017, aged 96, having completed 22,219 solo engagements since 1952.
He was a patron, president, or member of over 780 organisations, and he served as chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for people aged 14 to 24.
