A personal tribute to a man who has protected the nation I grew up in. We all depended on him without realizing it, and knew he would sort things out without fuss behind closed doors. You didn’t fear him, but respected what he stood for and that was duty, honour, and integrity. As many have expressed, he was a safe pair of hands, reliable and trustworthy, yet some of us feel that the cushion of safety has been whipped from under us. However, we are optimistic that William will take up that mantle in due course.
https://harrymarkle.wordpress.com/2021/04/16/the-duke-of-edinburgh-farewell-his-long-watch-is-over/
Many people have shared their own stories about Philip– personal memories passed down through the generations. One in particular caught my eye, when Philip went to find an old Naval buddy he worked with while on an engagement with The Queen as he found out he was working there. He did find him, despite the aides persuading him otherwise and had a good chat. I feel that epitomizes the kind of man he was, that he made time for everyone and that friendships weren’t defined by title, rank, wealth, or the superficial things that some believe matter. It is about character, personality, and being a decent and honourable human being.
Tomorrow (17 April, 2021) will be his official sending off – a time when his family can pay their respects to him. I hope that people can respect this, and stop with the petty speculative gossip regarding the black sheep of the family. The focus should not be on the Sussexes, and their comeuppance will come in time, The Iron Duke won’t be here to oversee it, but I am sure we will feel his influence around us, for he will have wanted to protect the Monarchy that he strived to build and fortify with The Queen.
His watch is over, and while we lived under his guard for over seven decades, it is time for him to rest. We will carry on his work – that is to protect the Monarchy, for that is what he would have wanted, and we do it having being inspired by his fortitude of character, and his endearing spirit. The world could do with a few more like him, for that would make the world a better place. They don’t make them like they used to, but I expect he and Captain Sir Tom Moore are having a good chat upstairs.
Farewell for now, and thank you for your dedicated life of service to the nation, for supporting The Queen, showing the world that we are a nation of integrity and honour, and for being steadfast in all that you did.
RIP, we’ve got this, and will do our utmost to make you proud!
*Thanks to Artemis Goog for her farewell sketch of Prince Philip.
I could not bear to watch the live broadcast on the BBC. I watched the abridged footage on BBC2 and was very very much moved to tears. HMTQ looked so alone so bereft and suddenly so very very frail. I hope she survives this and I hope she has people around her to comfort her physically, she needs hugs and shoulders to cry on.
MDW, USA: I watched on BBC cable here, to avoid the non-stop drivel of American commentators. The service was spare, elegant, and evocative of the Duke's stoic self-discipline. The music choices were pure perfection, and spoke more loudly than words IMHO. It should not be a surprise that the Duke got it exactly right even at his own funeral. He knew instinctively, as did many of his generation, that "less is more". I wish comfort to your wonderful Queen in the coming days.