HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 1921 – 2021

Photo: Allan Warren, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe Commonwealth Medical Trust (Commat) is saddened at death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. As Commat, we send our sincere condolences. 

Until his retirement at the age of 96, the Duke frequently accompanied the Queen at Commonwealth events including Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) and the annual celebrations for Commonwealth Day. 

As well as the annual service in Westminster Abbey, Commonwealth Day is marked by a reception attended by High Commissioners and other diplomats and dignitaries and representatives of Commonwealth NGOs. At one of them, not long before he retired, I met the Duke and received what might be called ‘a right royal telling off’.

When the royal guests arrive, they walk down two sides and talk to a number of those present. I was on the ‘Duke’s side’ rather than the ‘Queen’s side’ and had been chatting to a young female diplomat from a country in Africa. She was keen to meet him, so I managed to introduce her, only to make the fatal mistake of saying she was from the country next to the one that she actually came from. Of course, she immediately corrected me. And, the Prince took one look at me and said “For goodness sake get the country right!” Afterwards he did ask what my organization was and what we did, and then having moved down the line, walked all the way back to me to say “There’s someone from another health organization over there, you’d better go to talk to them,” which I dutifully did. 

Over the years, Prince Philip visited many Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean and in Europe with the Queen and on his own. His knowledge of the Commonwealth was extensive and his support unwavering.

By: Marianne Haslegrave, Director