Prince Philip dies at Windsor Castle age 99

| 09/04/2021 | 35 Comments
Prince Philip

(CNS) Updated with local statements and protocol: Royal officials have announced the death of 99-year-old Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth’s husband of 73 years. Local officials have said that flags are flying at half-mast on all government buildings across the Cayman Islands today (Friday) to mark his passing. The Duke of Edinburgh died peacefully at Windsor Castle Friday morning, the palace announcement stated. He had been discharged from hospital a few weeks ago after undergoing surgery.

Prince Philip had stepped away from public life in 2017 after more than 60 years of public service, which he had jokingly summed up as the “the world’s most experienced plaque unveiler”. He has largely lived away from the public gaze over the last few years at the secluded Wood Farm on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The official announcement from Buckingham Palace on Friday morning stated: “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. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

The Queen will be in official mourning for eight days.

As tributes began to pour in, the UK royal machine and government began to grapple with the problem of dealing with a funeral of a senior member of the Royal Family during a COVID-19 lockdown in Britain, as funerals are currently limited to 30 guests.

Prince Philip was born into Greek-Danish royalty on Corfu, a Greek Islands in the Mediterranean, on 10 June 1921, but the family was banished from Greece when he was very young. He lived in France, Germany and Britain before marrying the young Elizabeth, who went on to become Queen Elizabeth II and he became her unofficial prince consort.

Cayman Islands officials have said that flags on government buildings will remain at half-mast, or two thirds of the way up a flag pole, until 8:00 the morning after the royal funeral (the date of which has not been confirmed). There will also be a 21-gun salute at Government House tomorrow (Saturday, 10 April) at mid-day.

The Duke of Edinburgh is known to have visited the Cayman Islands three times, according to a release from GIS. He first made a solo visit, in 1962, when he was the first guest to stay in the recently built Government House. He visited twice more, in 1983 and 1994, accompanying the Queen.

Within the Cayman Islands the Duke also had a particularly impactful role on young people. Over the decades thousands of young Caymanians successfully enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, which he founded to promote youth development in the UK and the Commonwealth.

It is expected that the Cayman Islands will join the United Kingdom in observing a minute of silence that will coincide with the official funeral.

For members of the public who wish to extend their sympathies to the Royal Family, condolence books will be located at Government Administration Building in George Town, at Emily ‘Teacher Redley’ Powery in West Bay, at the Savannah,  Bodden Town, North Side and East End Post Offices, at District Administration in Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman District Office, from Monday, 12 April.

The books will be available during the business hours of the host organisations. A online condolence facility is also available from here. After the funeral all condolences will be shared with the Royal Family.

In his statement, the premier noted that General Elections will continue as planned in the Cayman Islands this Wednesday, 14 April.

While the observance will not impact essential public services, guidance by the UK Government to its personnel around the world has suggested that attendance at public and social engagements be reduced or stopped during the eight-day period.

Senior officials in the UK Government will be expected to wear a dark suit or day dress. Routine scheduled communications activity will also be limited to essential public interest advice. These recommendations are not required to be followed in the Overseas Territories but are also being made available by the Cayman Islands Government to any persons who may wish guidance.

Buckingham Palace has also requested that persons make donations to charity instead of sending wreaths and flowers.

Information about HRH, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and his past visits to the Cayman Islands, as well as current details and future announcements about local observances related to the period of mourning, are available from the Government Home Page here.

Records relating to his visits to the Cayman Islands are available for viewing upon request in the reading room of the National Archive, see here, tel. 949-9809.

In memory of The Duke CIGTV will also re-air the Hurley’s Media documentary of the 1994 Royal Visit throughout the mourning period from tonight until 17 April.

For a full biography of the sometimes controversial prince visit the official Royal website or Brittanica.

See statement by Governor Martyn Roper on CIGTV below:


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Comments (35)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Great a day off for the funeral, his only contribution to these Islands.

  2. Elvis says:

    Just take the F*****g picture will you , hahahahaha, he was class.
    The very last of the “ normal” royals left . Diana was the last before him.

  3. Anonymous says:

    some of his classic quotes

    Do you still throw spears at each other?

    If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane, and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it.

    If I were reincarnated I would wish to be returned to Earth as a killer virus to lower human population levels.

    When a man opens a car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife.

    It’s a pleasure to be in a country that isn’t ruled by its people.

    People think there’s a rigid class system here, but dukes have been known to marry chorus girls. Some have even married Americans.

    Cannibalism is a radical but realistic solution to the problem of overpopulation.

    I don’t care what kind it is, just get me a beer.

    If you stay here much longer you’ll all be slitty-eyed.

    I would like to go to Russia very much — although the bastards murdered half my family.

    [after accepting a gift from a Kenyan woman] You are a woman, aren’t you?

  4. TopaZ says:

    I honor of the Duke of Edinburgh and her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I honestly think we should postpone the Election at least one Week to show our respect for the passing of Prince Phillip it’s the least we can do for his 99 years of life .My condolences to Her Majesty on the passing of her beloved Husband May his soul Rest In Peace.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Rest in peace, good sir.

  6. Anonymous says:

    You may be a prince or even a street sweeper, one day we too shall dance with the reaper.

  7. Rae Publican says:

    Chances of there being any tax payable on his estate? Zero.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Public holiday soon come

  9. Anonymous says:

    RIP but I do not understand the shock waves around the world regarding a 99 year old man dying peacefully. He lived a full life and much longer than many of us.

  10. Anonymous says:

    RIP.

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