His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Baroness Wyld Excerpts(3 years ago)
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Baroness Wyld (Con)
My Lords, I offer my deep condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family as they mourn His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, a beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal encapsulated the loss of an older family member so movingly in her statement:
“You know it’s going to happen but you are never really ready.”
There are no words that can lessen the family’s grief, but it is right that we come together today to pay tribute to the Duke, and I offer a short reflection.
Today we have heard about how the Duke of Edinburgh has shaped our nation. The public reaction to his death, and the desire of old and young to pay their respects, comes as no surprise. For most of us, Prince Philip has simply always been there at Her Majesty’s side or a few steps behind. He seemed to embody the values of a generation. One of my earliest memories is of my grandparents, themselves born in the shadow of the First World War, telling me all about the Queen’s and Prince Philip’s many years of public service and devotion to duty. That was about 40 years ago, and little did I imagine that there was a whole lot more to do.
A few years later, as a young undergraduate at Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge, I realised that it took a special type of charisma to make the opening of a new college building feel like the event of the summer. But the Duke of Edinburgh managed it, and a very jolly evening was had by all. It has been so uplifting to hear again from so many about the Duke’s genuine affinity with young people, through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme in particular. The Duke’s belief in every young person’s potential, and his determination to find new ways to unlock it, is a major part of his legacy. He helped people to believe in themselves.
We know that in his interests and ideas the Duke was often ahead of his time and challenging. But his life’s work was underpinned by values that are timeless: duty to one’s country, a devotion to family life and serving others rather than seeking personal glory. I join your Lordships in mourning his passing and give thanks for a life so well lived.