Prince Philip: Public grieving for our own Great Duke

The

Duke of Edinburgh could be controversial but, like the Queen, he has been a fixture of many people’s lives from cradle to grave

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“Bury the Great Duke with an empire’s lamentation…” The words will have to be changed somewhat but Tennyson’s famous ode on the death of another great personage (the Duke of Wellington) will no doubt be much quoted in coming days.

The Duke of Edinburgh could be controversial but, like the Queen, he has been a fixture of many people’s lives from cradle to grave. Royalty today no longer attracts universal deference. However, Prince Philip was clearly someone who lived his life according to deep underlying principles of duty and patriotism.

Any kind of public grieving is difficult at the moment but I have no doubt that the great majority of the nation will want — in one way or another — to pay respect to the Great Duke. We will surely not see his like again.

The Rev Andrew McLuskey

Editor’s Reply

Dear Andrew

In a moment in history already characterised by loss and grieving already, the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing has come as very sad news indeed.

None will be feeling the pain of his absence more than the Queen, and our thoughts go out to her. Her rock during her reign has been her husband, whom she married in 1947 and has described as her “strength and stay”.

Sadly too many of us can relate to the feeling of losing a loved one over the last year and we will all be empathising with her I’m sure.

Emma Loffhagen, Comment Writer

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