There were only two things Prince Philip wanted his wife to do once he passed away. And she made sure that they were taken care of.
Prince Philip's passing was a moment mourned by thousands. Remembered as a "beloved" husband, a "great" father, a "loving" grandfather, and a "wonderful" friend, the stories celebrating his life don't seem to end. But one thing that most recall about The Duke of Edinburgh is his relationship with Queen Elizabeth II. For 73 years, the couple's "enduring" romance set a standard for love stories. But fans couldn't help but get emotional when even after his passing, the Queen made sure that her soulmate's final two wishes were fulfilled.
In the days before his death, Prince Philip apparently expressed his desires to his wife. According to the NZ Herald, he frequently told her that he wanted his final ride to be "stuck" in the back of a Land Rover and then “driven to Windsor." What made this wish special was that the Land Rover he wanted was one he reportedly partly designed and is said to be a “Defender 130 Gun Bus” commissioned in 2005.
The second wish that Prince Philip made was that he wanted to pass away peacefully in his own home. A royal source explained saying, "It was the Duke’s fervent wish to die peacefully at home. We knew that when he was taken home it was to die on his own terms, not in a hospital bed, but in his own bed. Philip didn’t want any fuss. He wanted to do things his way until the end."
On April 9, 2021, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at age 99, just a couple of months before what would have been his 100th birthday. But the Queen made sure that both of his wishes were granted. Till April 22, a mourning period was observed for Prince Philip and during this time, Queen Elizabeth was reported to have continued her usual duties as well as she could during the pandemic. Additionally, the royal family also maintained their responsibilities and supported the matriarch as she mourned.
“The Duke of Edinburgh is irreplaceable and the Queen’s dedication to duty is undiminished. But senior officials and members of the family have long had an eye on ensuring she is more supported in the future and it seems sensible to start employing this now," a source told Mirror UK. In a statement made by Prince Harry, he said of his grandfather, “My grandfather was a man of service, honor and great humor. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next."
"So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself. You will be sorely missed, but always remembered—by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts," he ended, as quoted by BBC.
Prince William also shared a few words in tribute to Prince Philip: “My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family. I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days. I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her. I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!”
R.I.P Prince Philip.
References:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-philip-gets-last-wish-23893416
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56721559
Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by Owen Humphreys - WPA Pool
