Prince Harry has paid tribute to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, following the royal family’s announcement of his passing on April 9.
In a separate statement on the Archewell Foundation’s website, he spoke of his late grandfather, his most memorable antic dotes and the relationship that they shared, despite recent trials and tribulations.
“My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour,” Harry said in his statement. “He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm and also because you never knew what he might say next,”
He continued: “He will be remembered as the longest reigning consort to the monarch, a decorated serviceman, a Prince and a Duke. But to me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right ’til the end,”
“He has been a rock for Her Majesty the Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, ‘Oh do get on with it!’”
“So, on that note, grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to granny, and for always being yourself. You will be sorely missed, but always remembered-by the nation and the world,” he added.
“Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts.” He concluded with the words, ‘Per Mare, Per Terram’—the motto of the Royal Marines and Latin for ‘By Sea, By Land’.
At the time of Prince Philip’s death, and prior to his lengthy statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex initially took down their Archewell Foundation’s website to replace it with a message mourning Harry’s grandfather, who died peacefully at Windsor Castle, aged 99.
“In Loving Memory of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021,” the dedication says. “Thank you for your service…you will be greatly missed.”
Harry, who is currently living in California, is likely to return to the U.K. for the first time in over a year to attend the funeral. According to People, Harry is predicted to quarantine for several days and be tested before joining his family at St. George’s Chapel.
It remains unclear if Meghan, who is currently expecting the couple’s second child, a baby girl, will join her husband or stay in the U.S., with their son Archie Harrison.
Prince Harry has always spoken of the close bond he shared with his grandfather, and the pair were often seen smiling and joking with one another at royal events. Philip also played a crucial role in Prince William and Prince Harry’s lives after the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.
Appearing on The Late Late Show last month with James Cordon, Harry spoke of how he keeps in touch with his grandparents, telling the host a funny story about Philip.
“My grandfather instead of pressing ‘leave meeting’ he just goes ‘doof,'” he told the host while gesturing how his grandfather slams a laptop closed. “So, we’re like ‘Ok, bye’.”
And although he retired from public service in 2017, the Duke of Edinburgh was in attendance for many important family moments. He attended Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding in May 2018 shortly after undergoing hip replacement surgery, and was also present for a historic family photo after the birth of the couple’s first child, Archie, in 2019.
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