Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021, marking a huge loss for the British monarchy. The Duke of Edinburgh served as the British monarch's consort for 69 years, the longest-serving in history. He married his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, five years before she ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, and remained a beloved public figure until his death.
Keep reading to learn more about Philip’s final days and his intimate 30-person funeral.
How Did Prince Philip Die?
Philip died peacefully at age 99 at Windsor Castle. Although his death certificate states “old age” as his cause of death, recent reports claim the Duke secretly battled inoperable pancreatic cancer since 2013. In addition, his death came shortly after a month-long hospital stay following a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition and an infection.
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Royal historian Hugo Vickers recounted intimate details of Philip’s last night in his book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History.
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 10: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh carriage driving on day 1 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park on May 10, 2017 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
"On the last night of his life, he gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his Zimmer frame, helped himself to a beer and drank it in the Oak Room," Vickers wrote about the Duke, per the Daily Mail. "The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well, and quietly slipped away. By this point, he had lived with pancreatic cancer for nearly eight years — far longer than the usual survival time from diagnosis."
Was Queen Elizabeth II With Prince Philip When He Died?
Philip relocated to Wood Farm, a secluded five-bedroom farmhouse on the Sandringham estate, after he retired from his royal duties in August 2017, but he joined the Queen at Windsor Castle amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
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The morning Philip died, Elizabeth was not present at his bedside. Author Gyles Brandreth shared details about the monarch’s whereabouts in his book, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.
“When he came back [from the bath], he said he felt a little faint and wanted help getting back into bed … The nurse called the Duke’s valet and the Queen’s page, Paul Whybrew, for help — and he died before the Queen could be called,” the author wrote, per Daily Mirror, noting Her Majesty was asleep in a separate room. “The Queen wasn’t yet up … And she wasn’t called until after a doctor had come and pronounced the Duke dead.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend the launch of The Queen's Baton Relay for the XXI Commonwealth Games being held on the Gold Coast in 2018 at Buckingham Palace on March 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)According to Vickers’ biography, Elizabeth was “furious” Philip had “left without saying goodbye.”
Who Was at Prince Philip’s Funeral?
Philip was famously known for not wanting a lot of fanfare at his funeral. Royal author Anna Pasternak said the Duke “didn’t want a lot of fuss” while speaking to Fox News in April 2021.
"The queen wants to honor him in the way that best reflects his desires, but also touches on the sense of duty that he led in his life," she said. "It’s my understanding he didn’t want the frills of a massive funeral even if we didn’t have a pandemic.”
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Queen Elizabeth II watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh into St George’s Chapel by the pallbearers during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, United Kingdom. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images)Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images
Philip seemed to receive his final wish, as only 30 mourners were allowed to attend his funeral amid social distancing measures during the COVID pandemic.
Elizabeth mourned her husband and sat alone in St. George’s Chapel for the funeral service. Other attendees included Philip and Elizabeth’s four children, King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Philip’s grandchildren, including Prince Williamand Prince Harry, and other relatives. Philip’s close friend Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who was a close companion later in life, also attended.
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