Yahoo Finance Prince William writes a heartfelt tribute to his “extraordinary Grandpa”
Prince William has written a heartfelt tribute to Prince Philip, who died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday 9 April. He was 99 years old.
He described his “grandpa” as an “extraordinary man”, and praised his “infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour”.
The Duke of Cambridge shared a message via the official Kensington Royal social media accounts, accompanied by a sweet photograph of Prince Philip with William’s eldest child, Prince George.
“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,” he wrote. “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!”
He added that he and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, aim to continue his legacy and “get on with the job”.
“My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support the Queen in the years ahead,” he finished. “I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job.”
Philip was grandfather to William, and great grandfather to William’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Duke of Cambridge is said to have been close to his grandfather, especially after the royal played such an active role in taking care of both he and Harry after the death of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. At the time of the fatal accident, the boys were staying with their grandparents in Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands where they were hidden away from the press and public scrutiny.
When William returned to Eton, he would spend weekends with his grandparents at nearby Windsor Castle, where they reportedly talked over cups of tea. When the Prince considered leaving St Andrews after feeling homesick in the early days, he talked through his problems with his grandfather. William stayed at university where he met his future wife, then then Kate Middleton.
In 2016, Prince William allegedly gave The Crown’s Matt Smith advice on portraying Prince Philip: “He said: ‘Just one word – legend.’”
