For more than seven decades, Prince Philip stood beside Queen Elizabeth II, completing over 22,000 solo engagements and redefining what it meant to be a royal consort. When he died on April 9, 2021, at Windsor Castle, the nation paused to remember a man whose life spanned war, duty, and personal loss. This article separates verified facts from speculation, tracing his relationships, his health, and the moments that shaped his legacy.

4 related posts

Died: April 9, 2021 (The Royal Family) ·
Cause of death: Old age (The Guardian) ·
Hospitalized: 28 days in 2021 (Reuters) ·
Retired: 2017 (The Royal Family) ·
Last solo engagement: August 2, 2017 (The Royal Family) ·
Funeral: April 17, 2021 (The Royal Family)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Prince Philip died peacefully at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2021 (The Royal Family)
  • Cause of death listed as old age, certified by Sir Huw Thomas (The Guardian) (The Royal Family)
  • He retired from public duties in 2017 and carried out 22,219 solo engagements over his lifetime (The Royal Family) (The Royal Family)
2What’s unclear
  • The exact warning Prince Philip reportedly gave Prince Harry about Meghan Markle remains unconfirmed
  • Whether any of his four children was a particular favourite has never been publicly stated
  • The Queen’s private emotional response beyond her public statement is not known
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Prince Philip’s legacy continues through the Duke of Edinburgh Award and his children’s charitable work
  • The Royal Family now navigates a new era with King Charles III as monarch
  • Public interest in Prince Philip’s relationships with Diana, Meghan, and Harry persists

Six key facts about Prince Philip’s final years and the events that surrounded them:

Fact Details Source
Date of death April 9, 2021 The Royal Family
Cause of death Old age The Guardian
Death certificate signed by Sir Huw Thomas The Telegraph
Hospital stay (Feb 2021) 28 days Reuters
Retirement from public duties 2017 The Royal Family
Funeral date April 17, 2021 (scaled down due to COVID-19) The Royal Family

Who was the love of Prince Philip’s life?

All evidence points to Queen Elizabeth II. In her public statement after his death, the Queen described the loss as leaving “a huge void” in her life (The Royal Family). The couple were married for 73 years and had four children together. Prince Philip himself once said he had to “adapt to the role of husband and consort,” suggesting his primary focus was always on supporting his wife.

The bond

Prince Philip’s 22,219 solo engagements over seven decades testify to a life lived in service of the Crown and his marriage. The Queen’s own words confirm he was her constant companion.

Did Prince Philip have other romantic interests before the Queen?

  • Before his engagement, Philip had friendships with several young women, but no relationship was publicly acknowledged as serious. The Royal Family’s official biography notes his devotion to the Queen from their first meeting at Dartmouth in 1939 (The Royal Family).
Bottom line: Prince Philip’s lifelong partnership with Queen Elizabeth II was the central relationship of his life. No other known romantic attachment competed with his commitment to her.

The implication: Their union defined his role and his legacy as consort.

What was the cause of death for Prince Philip?

The official cause of death listed on his death certificate was “old age”, certified by the Queen’s physician Sir Huw Thomas (The Guardian). He had been hospitalized for 28 days in February and March 2021 due to an infection and an underlying heart condition (Reuters). He died peacefully at Windsor Castle on the morning of April 9, 2021.

Was Prince Philip ill before his death?

  • Yes. He was admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital on February 16, 2021, and discharged on March 16 after treatment for an infection and a pre-existing heart condition (Reuters).

How did the public learn of his death?

  • Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying Prince Philip had “passed away peacefully” that morning (The Royal Family). The official national plan, Operation Forth Bridge, was activated, governing announcements, mourning, and the funeral (BBC News).
Bottom line: Prince Philip died of old age after a 28-day hospital stay. The Queen’s medical team certified the cause, and the Palace followed a pre-arranged protocol for the announcement and funeral.

The catch: The cause of death, while officially “old age”, followed a period of declining health that included heart complications.

What was Prince Philip’s warning to Harry about Meghan?

Reports have suggested that Prince Philip warned his grandson about the challenges of marrying an American actress. However, the exact wording of any such warning has never been confirmed. Prince Harry himself said in the 2021 Oprah interview that he felt “trapped” within the royal system (CBS News). What is known is that Philip met Meghan Markle before his death, and the couple retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 (The Royal Family).

Did Prince Philip meet Meghan Markle before his death?

  • Yes. Meghan Markle attended royal family events after marrying Harry in 2018, including the wedding itself (The Royal Family). Philip is understood to have met her on several occasions.

How did Harry respond to the warning?

  • Harry later said in the Oprah interview that he felt “trapped” and that there were concerns about his son’s skin color (CBS News). He did not directly address any specific warning from Philip.
Bottom line: The reported warning from Prince Philip to Harry remains unconfirmed. Harry’s own statements suggest he felt trapped in the royal system, but no direct quote from Philip exists in verified sources.

What this means: The lack of confirmation leaves the public with speculation rather than fact regarding Philip’s views on Meghan.

Did Prince Philip like Diana?

Accounts from biographers describe a relationship that was warm but occasionally tense. After Diana’s separation from Prince Charles, Philip is said to have exchanged letters with her, but no official records confirm the content. Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997 (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Philip was present at her funeral procession.

What was Prince Philip’s role after Diana’s death?

  • He walked behind Diana’s coffin alongside Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Prince William, a gesture widely seen as a display of unity (BBC News). He also helped care for his grandsons in the aftermath.

Did Philip write letters to Diana?

  • After her separation from Charles, Philip reportedly wrote letters to Diana. A quote attributed to him in one letter read: “Nobody, least of all me, easily forgets your past contributions” – though this specific letter has not been independently verified by official sources.
Bottom line: Prince Philip’s relationship with Diana was complex – they had a warm side but also tensions. No definitive judgment from him about her is on public record.

The pattern: Philip maintained a supportive, if private, role during family crises.

What did the Queen say when Philip died?

The Queen’s official statement described her husband’s death as leaving “a huge void” in her life (The Royal Family). She observed a period of mourning, and the royal family and royal households joined her. The funeral, scaled down due to COVID-19 restrictions, was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on April 17, 2021 (The Royal Family).

Private grief

The Queen’s public statement encapsulated her loss, but the private dimension remained hers alone.

Did Elizabeth cry when Philip died?

  • No public reports confirm the Queen’s private emotional response. She was described by aides as composed and dignified throughout the mourning period.

How did the royal family announce the death?

  • Buckingham Palace issued a formal statement at 12:02 BST on April 9, 2021, announcing that Prince Philip had “passed away peacefully” (The Royal Family). The BBC and other broadcasters interrupted regular programming.
Bottom line: The Queen’s public statement was heartfelt – “a huge void” – but her private grief remained private. The funeral under COVID restrictions added a somber and intimate tone to the farewell.

The implication: Even the most public of figures retains a personal space that history cannot capture.

Timeline of key events

  • 1997 – Princess Diana dies in Paris (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
  • 2017 – Prince Philip retires from public duties after 22,219 solo engagements (The Royal Family)
  • 2018 – Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel (The Royal Family)
  • 2020 – Harry and Meghan announce they will step back as senior royals (The Royal Family)
  • 2021, February – Philip admitted to hospital for infection and heart condition; stays 28 days (Reuters)
  • 2021, April 9 – Prince Philip dies at Windsor Castle, aged 99 (The Royal Family)
  • 2021, April 17 – Funeral held at St George’s Chapel under COVID restrictions (The Royal Family)

This chronology shows how Philip’s final years were bookended by family milestones and his own health decline.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Prince Philip’s marriage to Queen Elizabeth II lasted 73 years
  • He died of old age on April 9, 2021
  • His naval service in WWII is documented by the Royal Navy

What’s unclear

  • Exact warning given to Prince Harry about Meghan
  • Whether Philip had a favourite child
  • The Queen’s private emotional response

The balance between known and unknown reminds us that even the most documented lives hold personal mysteries.

“He has left a huge void in my life.”

Queen Elizabeth II, official statement after Prince Philip’s death (The Royal Family)

“I feel trapped.”

Prince Harry, Oprah interview with Oprah Winfrey, March 2021 (CBS News)

Prince Philip’s death marked the end of an era. For the Royal Family, his absence means a shift in the dynamic the Queen relied on for 73 years. For the public, he remains a figure of duty, debate, and devotion. The unanswered questions – about warnings, preferences, and private emotions – reflect the difficulty of fully knowing a man who spent most of his life in the royal shadow. Prince Philip leaves behind a legacy of duty and devotion, while the unanswered questions remind us that even the most public figures retain private depths.

Additional sources

ellecanada.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, study.com

For a detailed look at his son’s controversial life, read the full biography of Prince Andrew.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

Who was Philip’s favorite child?

The Duke of Edinburgh never publicly stated a favourite child. Biographers suggest he had a particularly close bond with Anne, who shared his love of horses, but no official confirmation exists (BBC News).

What was Prince Philip’s role during the royal family’s most difficult moments?

Philip was a steady presence through crises, including the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the aftermath of Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back in 2020. He walked behind Diana’s coffin and later wrote letters to her after her separation (BBC News).

How tall was Prince Philip?

Prince Philip was reported to be about 6 feet tall (183 cm). This figure comes from official royal biographies, though exact measurements were not recorded in public health records.

What car did Prince Philip drive?

Prince Philip was known for driving a green Land Rover Defender, and he often drove himself even in his later years. He also owned an electric G-Wiz for short journeys around the Sandringham estate (Daily Mail).

How did Prince Philip’s parents influence his life?

Philip’s father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, was a military officer, and his mother, Princess Alice, was a nun. His family’s exile from Greece shaped his early life and instilled a sense of duty, but he rarely spoke publicly about his parents (Encyclopaedia Britannica).