Prince Philip’s death left Queen with ‘huge void in her life’, says son Andrew: ‘We're feeling great sense of loss’
The death of Prince Philip has left a "huge void" in the Queen's life, claimed her son Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace announced on Friday, April 9, that the Duke of Edinburgh had passed away, at his home, and in the company of his beloved 'Lilibet'. The couple's third child and second son, Andrew, called his mother "incredibly stoic" even though she is "feeling it, I think, probably more than everybody else", reports Sky News.
Andrew told the outlet how his mother "described it as having left a huge void in her life. But we - the family, the ones that are closer - are rallying round to make sure that we're there to support her, and I know there is a huge amount of support not just for her but for everybody as we go through this enormous change." News of this comes after it was revealed that the Royal Family attended a service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Andrew also told the outlet, "we've lost almost the grandfather of the nation. He was a remarkable man," and described it as a "great sense of loss".
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Prince Edward, the Queen and her late husband's youngest child, also paid tribute to his father, touting how he "always thought of others before himself". "It's been a bit of a shock. However much one tries to prepare oneself for something like this it's still a dreadful shock," the Earl of Wessex told reporters, adding "And we're still trying to come to terms with that. And it's very, very sad."
Edward continued: "It just goes to show: he might have been our father, grandfather, father-in-law, but he meant so much to so many other people." His wife, the Countess of Wessex Sophie Rhys-Jones, told reporters that the Queen is "thinking of others before herself". Edward quickly added, "As always. But bearing up, and again it's just that wave of affection for him and just those lovely stories."
Andrew also noted: "It's a terrible loss. My father said to me on the telephone a few months ago that we're all in the same boat, and we must all remember that. But occasionally we, the family, are asked to stand up and show compassion and leadership. And unfortunately, with my father's death, it has brought it home to me not just our loss but actually the loss that everybody else has felt for so many people who've lost loved ones during the pandemic. And so we are all in the same boat - slightly different circumstances because he didn't die from COVID but we're all feeling a great sense of loss."
In the wake of the duke's passing, people all over have poured in with heartfelt condolences and messages, which Andrew called "absolutely outstanding and I just want to say how grateful I am, we are, for these tributes. I loved him as a father. He was so calm if you had a problem. He would think about it and that was the great thing that I always think about. He was always someone you could go to and he would always listen."
Claiming the loss would be "very personal" for their loyal staff, Edward also told reporters: "He means so much to so many people here, and it's the same for those who lived and worked at Balmoral and Sandringham. For all those past and present. They've all had their own personal memories and stories. Our hearts go out to all of them as well."
Philip often stopped to greet people on the royal estates, the Countess of Wessex said. "He always exchanged words with everybody because it didn't matter what anybody was doing in and around the estate here (at Windsor) and everywhere else," the Countess added. "They all meant a lot to him and he always took a very personal interest in everything that they were doing. So they all have got stories to tell and most of them are quite funny as well."
Calling his father a "much-loved and appreciated figure", Prince Charles told reporters how his "dear Papa" had "given the most remarkable, devoted service to the Queen, to my family, and to the country". The late Duke of Edinburgh's televised funeral will take place on Saturday, April 11.