Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Prince Philip, the longest-serving consort in British history.

The sad news was announced yesterday after the Duke of Edinburgh died peacefully age 99 on Friday morning at Windsor Castle.

The Royal family are joining people around the world to mourn his loss.

The Duke and the Queen spent more than 70 years together and the Prince dedicated decades of his life to royal duty, serving the nation at the monarch’s side.

Prince Philip was born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark in 1921.

He married the then Princess Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in 1947 and remained an active member of the Royal Navy until the Princess became Queen in 1952, after which he devoted himself to supporting her work.

He officially retired from public engagements in the summer of 2017.

The Palace said in a statement: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

“Further announcements will made in due course.

“The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

The death of the duke comes in the midst of the worst public health crisis for generations as the UK and countries around the globe reel from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The prince had returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital – his longest ever stay.

He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition.

The Duke had looked gaunt as he was driven away from King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London, having been pushed in a wheelchair to a waiting car.

The Duke – father to the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June.

He spent much of the Covid-19 crisis staying with the Queen at Windsor in 'HMS Bubble' – the nickname given to the couple’s reduced household of dedicated staff during lockdown.

Tributes from around the world flooded in and flags on public buildings were lowered to half-mast as a period of mourning was announced.

A spokesman for King Edward VII’s Hospital, where Philip spent much of his longest ever stay as an in-patient this year, said yesterday: “It is with the deepest sorrow that we learned this morning of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Oxford Mail:

“All of our thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal Family.”

Former Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: “All my thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty and the whole Royal Family today on the loss of a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

“The nation and the entire Commonwealth owe Prince Philip an extraordinary debt of gratitude for a distinguished life of service to the Queen, our country and so many around the world.”

In a statement outside the door to 10 Downing Street yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.

He said: “It is to Her Majesty, and her family, that our nation’s thoughts must turn today.”

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“Because they have lost not just a much-loved and highly respected public figure, but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather and, in recent years, great-grandfather.

“Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary, Her Majesty said that our country owed her husband ‘a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know’ and I am sure that estimate is correct

“So we mourn today with Her Majesty The Queen, we offer our condolences to her and to all her family and we give thanks, as a nation and a Kingdom, for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”