End of an era: royal family mourns as Prince Philip dies after health battles

He had a good innings, as the saying goes, but sadly Britain’s Prince Philip didn’t make his century.

Just two months shy of what would have been his 100th birthday, Queen Elizabeth’s husband of 73 years has died, plunging his family and royal fans into mourning.

READ MORE| Prince Philip, 99, dies

His death was announced at midday on Friday and the Union Jack was lowered to half-mast outside 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,” a statement issued by the royal family read.

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

Philip was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London on 16 February after feeling unwell. The palace confirmed he was suffering from an infection but revealed no further details.After spending two weeks there – his longest stint in a hospital to date – he was transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the capital to treat a pre-existing heart condition.

The royal, who retired from public duty in 2017, has suffered several health problems over the past decade, including ablocked artery in December 2011 and a bladder infection in June 2012. 

In December 2019 he spent four nights at King Edward VII Hospital for treatment on a “pre-existing condition”, the nature of which was never formally disclosed.

During lockdown in 2020 he appeared remarkably well, even escaping the dreaded Covid-19 virus – and in January this year he and the queen were among the first to get the vaccine.

 But age as they say eventually catches up with you – and for Philip it was his time.

His passing will be an unimaginable loss for the queen, who has spoken on numerous occasions of her husband’s unwavering love and support, which has seen her through many torrid times.

His cheeky sense of humour also matched hers, and many have said that was one of the secrets to their lasting marriage – the longest of any British royal.

“Their relationship has withstood the test of time primarily because they loved one another very much,” royal expert and historian Christopher Warwick, told Vanity Fair in May 2020.

“It’s a very symbiotic relationship and a very firm partnership, starting off, of course, with those early meetings; their early correspondence, which became a friendship, which became affection and which became love.”