His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Baroness D'Souza Excerpts

Monday 12th April 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness D’Souza (CB) [V]]

My Lords, it is only now, following the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, that we can begin to appreciate the wide range of his interests, activities and achievements. He had an extraordinarily full life; he was “action man”. Prince Philip, of all people, was unsuited to conformity with some of the strictures of royal life, but he did conform, albeit in his own inimitable style, for over 70 years.

Her Majesty the Queen’s words about her husband on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary in 1997—

“I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know”—

are heartfelt, generous and true. We all anticipate that history will take careful note of these words and continue to commemorate Prince Philip’s remarkable contribution to the life of this and other nations. Among many millions of others, I offer Her Majesty the Queen my sadness at his passing and at the immense loss that this represents for the Queen.