Tributes for Prince Philip make Charles and Camilla emotional as notes, drawings by kids flood Royal Parks
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall reportedly had an emotional moment on Thursday, April 15 as they went to see flowers and tributes at Marlborough House laid in tribute to Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh passed away on Friday, April 9 at the age of 99.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Daily Mail reported, were moved by the scale of the tributes. They included notes of condolence and drawings by children that had been left in the Royal Parks and Buckingham Palace. The flowers and condolence messages were transferred from outside the palace and the parks to the nearby private gardens at Marlborough House, which is the headquarters of Commonwealth Foundation.
READ MORE
A Clarence House spokesman said: “Today, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Marlborough House Gardens to view a selection of flowers left by members of the public in memory of The Duke of Edinburgh. The flowers and condolence messages have been moved from outside Buckingham Palace and within the Royal Parks to the private gardens at Marlborough House. The Royal Parks will continue to move the flowers during this period of National Mourning. Marlborough House Gardens was chosen so as not to encourage crowds from gathering outside the Royal Palaces due to Covid-19.”
Prince Charles paid tribute to his late father Prince Philip, referring to him as “my dear Papa”, and calling him “a very special person who I think above all else”. Later, reports revealed that the father-son shared words before the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing.
Philip had three important things to say when he asked to see his eldest son in hospital a few weeks ago. In an emotional bedside conversation, the duke reportedly advised Prince Charles to care for Queen Elizabeth II when he was gone, and on how Charles should lead the royal family through the years ahead. While the father and son shared a difficult relationship in the past, “they've both mellowed,” said a royal source. “In recent years they were much more accepting of the other's point of view. They have always loved one another — that was never in question. But there was a deeper respect and it was growing.”
The funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh will be held on Saturday, April 17. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, the service will be lowkey. Because UK pandemic rules mandate that only 30 people can attend the somber ceremony, it is being speculated that the British monarch and Philip’s longtime consort Queen Elizabeth II will be sitting alone during the service.
The Queen also made the decision that no member of the royal family will wear military uniforms at the funeral. This last-minute decision, approved by the Queen, has been made in order to present a united family front. Elizabeth decided morning coats and black ties for the men, simple black outfits for the women will be the dress code for the funeral. This break from convention means Harry, who has been stripped of his military titles, won't look like the odd one out. Nor will Prince Andrew, who reportedly wanted to don the Admiral’s uniform, will cause controversy.