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Prince Andrew arrived first at Windsor Castle to comfort Queen just five minutes after Prince Philip's death

Prince Andrew was the first to arrive to be with his mother at Windsor Castle followed by Prince Edward who drove in from Bagshot Park, Surrey, followed by the Prince of Wales, Charles, who came from his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire
UPDATED APR 10, 2021
Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward rushed to the Queen's side on Friday after the Duke of Edinburgh's death (Getty Images)
Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward rushed to the Queen's side on Friday after the Duke of Edinburgh's death (Getty Images)

Buckingham Palace released the news of the death of Prince Philips, the Duke of Edinburgh, on Friday. He is believed to have been in the company of his wife and a small group of staff at Windsor Castle when he breathed his last just two months before his 100th birthday, this was before his sons could arrive to be by his side. Prince Andrew who lives at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate was the first to arrive at the back entrance to the Queen's private apartments within five minutes of his father's death. 

By 11:45 am, almost an hour after Andrew's arrival, another family member believed to be Prince Edward also arrived to be by his mother's side. The Queen's second son made an hour-long journey to the castle from Bagshot Park, Surrey, which has been his home for more than two decades. 

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(L-R) Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during "The Patron's Lunch" celebrations for The Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall on June 12, 2016 in London, England (Getty Images)

Prince of Wales, Charles, was the last to arrive at Windsor after traveling for two hours from his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire. Prince Charles and Prince Philip were known to have a rocky relationship but were "comforted" by the fact that they had been in regular contact recently and "said all the things that needed to be said," according to a source close to Charles. The source added, "It is some small comfort today that the prince was in much more regular contact with his father in recent weeks and months than he otherwise might have been."

"He was the only family member who was able to visit him in hospital and he was at Windsor as recently as the week before last. They spoke a great deal," the source said. Prince Charles's friends pointed out that the father-son duo had gone back to being warm and their relationship had been better than ever. One of them said, "The idea that their relationship was strained, certainly in recent years, couldn't have been further from the truth. And that's an important thing to remember in all that is being written. There was genuine love, affection, and understanding there. Which is all anyone holds dear at the end."

Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L) and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Getty Images)

Prince Philip was in and out of the hospital a great deal in the past couple of years but his death still came as a shock to the family. A source told the Daily Telegraph, "It was a surprise even though he had been in ill health. I think there was a sense that the Iron Duke would keep on going and make it to his 100th birthday but sadly it wasn't to be."

The news of his death was disseminated to members of the royal family after being confirmed by the on-call royal doctor and was later relayed to the prime minister and relevant arms of the government via a simple message, "Forth Bridge is Down", the official codewords for the Duke of Edinburgh's death. Around the country, Union flags began to be flown at half-mast and will remain so until after the funeral next Saturday.

RELATED TOPICS PRINCE ANDREW PRINCE EDWARD
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