Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Prince Philip Retires; Speaking to Macron Voters Ahead of Second Round; House Set to Vote For a Second Time On Obamacare Repeal Bill. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired May 04, 2017 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:42] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Welcome to News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Isa Soares live from Buckingham Palace where Britain's Prince Philip steps aside after 65 years.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth limits his public appearances.

LU STOUT: And President Trump could be nearing a significant political victory as the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on repealing

and replacing Obamacare

SOARES: Very warm welcome to the show. You are joining us from outside Buckingham Palace.

And he has been one of the most prominent faces of the British royal family for more than half a century. In the last few hours, Prince Philip has

announced he's stepping away from the spotlight, the 95-year-old is to end his royal duties this autumn.

Now, earlier the prince was spotted - if we can bring the video up - leaving the royal palace along with Queen Elizabeth on their way to a

church ceremony in London just very close here from where we are.

Now, Buckingham Palace says he will continue his royal duties until August. CNN's Phil Black is here outside Buckingham palace with me. And, Phil, put

this into context for an international audience, what is the significance?

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In a sense is this shouldn't be a surprise. He's about to turn 96. If he gets a cold as he did last

Christmas, people begin to worry about his health. But there is something a little shocking about this, because he has been such a large,

constant presence in British public life for so long. The image of him by the queen, or normally really a few steps behind really, supporting his

wife for so many decades has been such a constant image, and I guess such a reassuring thing, such a very big part of the duties of the royal family,

and so now him choosing to step down at a time when, by all accounts -- he's 96, but he seems to be in pretty good health. We saw him just

yesterday and he looked very good for a 96-year-old.

So, there is something historic about this. Prince Philip decided to choose down at a time

like this of his choosing, I don't think...

SOARES: With the support of the queen, of course.

BLACK: Indeed. With the support of the queen. And that's the other interesting thing about this, the significance, in a personal sense for

them.

They're about to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary later this year in November which is

by all accounts pretty extraordinary. Certainly historic for the British royal family. He is the longest serving male consort to a British queen.

She's the longest serving monarch. So, it's enormously significant in terms of the overall monarchy, in terms of British public life. And of

course for them, too, as a couple.

SOARES: And of course, for viewers, as Phil has been saying, it's not just the fact that he's standing next to her, behind her. He also carries out

many public engagements, more than a hundred and something last year, 116 or so in 2016. And he represents many

charities, too.

BLACK: He does. Patron of some 780 different organizations, I think. And that's going to be the practical challenge for the royal family, is now

taking his share of the workload, his share of the burden, if you'd like, and dispersing it among the others.

The queen says she's going to be continuing to perform as she has done, but she's already started to step back a little, relying more on their son,

Prince Charles, more on their grandchildren as well. We know that Prince William and Kate have moved back to London, a sign, no doubt, that they

are preparing to take on more of the burden. So, that's the practical element to all of this.

SOARES: There has been - of course, they've been highly criticized, the younger royals, for not doing enough - but it seems that they're working on

picking up some of the engagements.

Stay with us, because I want to bring in Fred Pleitgen who is standing outside St. James' palace where the couple are attending church ceremony.

Talk to us a bit about his engagements, because now he's going to be in the public eye until August. But until then, he's got a very busy schedule,

doesn't he?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He certainly does have a very busy schedule. And I think one of the things that we always

have to keep in mind, also, about the many events that Prince Philip attends is that, you know, a lot of them they aren't quick ribbon cutting

ceremonies where then he'll go back to Buckingham Palace, they really are, some of them, quite taxing events.

You look at the one that you have here right now where I'd say a little over an hour ago the queen and Prince Philip were driven in through that

gate that you see behind here. Obviously, a lot of people out here, a lot of tourists who want to snap a picture of the royal couple. Obviously,

this is always a big event for many tourists who are here in this city, the media of course we were here as well. And then they were greeted inside by

the chaplain in the atrium thre and went into the chapel.

Now, this event has been going on for over an hour. And of course when Prince Philip is there, he himself is a member of the Order of Merit, this

organization that he's attending the service of today. And so he's obviously expected to make conversation there, and to be part of the

conversation. There's going to be lunch here as well. This is an event that has already taken more than an hour and is still

ongoing, so certainly for a man who is about to turn 96 years old, it is quite a taxing thing to do.

And as you mentioned, Isa, I think more than100 public events that he attends pretty much every year, it does take its toll over the years, so at

this point in time obviously he's decided to cut it short. But certainly also in his own time and on his own terms. It's not something that is

immediate, it's something where he says it's going to happen in autumn which I think also shows the fact that he still in good health and very

robust health that we have seen him in pretty much throughout his entire life.

And of course, there have been some setbacks, especially over the past couple years, but this is really a significant time right now, but you're

seeing him do this on his own terms. And still until then, it seems to be going at a very high pace here as these public engagements are concerned,

of course, not just in London, but in various other places across the United Kingdom, sometimes overseas as well, Isa.

SOARES: Of course it's taxing for anyone over 90. He's 96 next month, and that's 30 years, he's retiring 30 years or so later than most people. But

he also, when he goes to these public events, he also does it with such color and such flare, doesn't he, Fred?

PLEITGEN: Yes. I think that's something that really the public, not just here in this country but certainly around the world is going to miss. You

know, there have been some of these public engagements that were colorful, some of them also having been a little more than colorful where some people

with some of the things he may have said and done, he may have overstepped certain boundaries. But that is also certainly something that really makes

up I would say the flavor of Prince Philip. And I think also does a lot to humanize the royal family, not just

in the eyes of the folks who live in this country, but really in the eyes of many people around the world.

And I think that is certainly something that people are going miss in the future when he does a lot less of these public events. Of course, one of

the things that Buckingham Palace said in its statement is that why he won't be accepting invitations to go to new public events, he might still

attend certain things that he might want to go to.

So, he might not be completely out of the public eye, but of course by all means and accounts, as you put it, he seems to be retiring from public

life, certainly very much at the pace he's been conductingthings over the years, Isa.

SOARES: Fred Pleitgen there for us. Thanks very much, Fred.

And I want to back to Kristie Lu Stout. And Krisitie, he's a royal, a really busy, very busy (inaudible) who is now really decided to put his

feet up. He really deserves it, too.

LU STOUT: And as as you were discussing with Fred, known for his off-the- cuff remarks but an incredible life of service.

Isa Soares, we'll go back to you in just a moment. Thank you for your reporting.

Now, let's move over to the United States, we are expecting a vote in the hours ahead on a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Top Republicans in

the House said they finally have the numbers to pass the health care overhaul and hand President Trump what he wants, a significant legislative

victory.

Joe Johns has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thanks to President Trump's leadership, Congress is going to vote to repeal and replace

ObamaCare.

JOHNS (voice-over): The crucial House vote on the GOP's amended health care bill just hours away, after a last-minute breakthrough gave House

leadership confidence to bring a vote to the floor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to pass it. We're going to pass it. Let's be optimistic about life.

JOHNS (voice-over): President Trump brokering a deal with two Republican hold-outs on pre-existing conditions, a popular provision that is not

guaranteed in the Republican bill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There were both yeses on the bill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I support the bill with this amendment that's going to be included.

JOHNS (voice-over): The amendment adds $8 billion over five years to an existing $130 billion fund to finance high-risk pools in states where

patients with pre-existing conditions could be charged higher rates.

Though experts say the new funding falls far short of the protections guaranteed under ObamaCare, the White House insisting otherwise.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Talking about the pre- existing condition under Trumpcare, they're going to be fine?

SEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON: Yes.

REP. JIM MCGOVERN (D), MASS.: On behalf of Democrats, we are disgusted. This latest backroom deal is nothing more than a Band-aid on a catastrophic

injury.

[08:10:07] REP. NANCY PELOSI, (D) CALIFORNIA: They had made it -- put this forth to make it look like, oh, we've improved the bill. No, it doesn't

improve the bill. This is an insult to the intelligence of the American people.

JOHNS (voice-over): Democrats denouncing the vote without an updated cost and impact analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO's last

estimate projected 24 million people losing coverage by 2026 under the last GOP bill.

Prominent groups like AARP and the American Medical Association also fiercely lobbying lawmakers to oppose the bill. Republicans looking for a

win after failing to secure funding for the president's border wall and the spending bill passed by the White House on Wednesday.

Despite this, White House trying to spin the appropriations bill as a win. Press secretary Sean Spicer bringing images of a border fence already under

construction as evidence that funding was secured, even though the bill expressly restricts border security money being used to construct a wall.

SPICER: There are various types of walls that can be built. Under the legislation that was just passed, it allows us to do that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that's not a wall. It's a levee wall?

SPICER: That's what it's actually called. That's the name of it. It is called --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- the fencing --

SPICER: No, no.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Nice followup question there. And that was CNN's Joe Johns reporting. In the coming hours, Donald Trump heads to New York City for

the first time as U.S. president. And there he'll meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Now, you'll remember their relationship got off to a rocky start in January when they had

the heated phone call over a refugee settlement deal that Australia had reached with the Obama administration.

Now, their talks this time are expected to focus on North Korea. Mr. Turnbull says his country back on Capitol Hill, FBI Director James Comey

faces a second straight day of questioning, and this time behind closed doors.

Now, he'll appear before the House intelligence committee a day after he testified before a

Senate panel. Now, Comey defended his controversial decision last year to reveal a relaunch of the Clinton email investigation just days before the

election.

Jim Sciutto has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: At times, defiant, other times, reflective. The FBI Director James Comey said the idea that

his decision to go public with details of the renewed Clinton email probe impacted the election result made him, quote, "mildly nauseous." But he

said repeatedly, he has no regrets.

Comey argued he was battling for the very credibility of the FBI, saying he doubted the top officials in the Department of Justice could carry out the

investigation without the perception of bias. This even before the highly publicized meeting between then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former

President Bill Clinton on a Phoenix tarmac during the height of the campaign.

JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR: And then the capper, I'm not picking on the Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who I like very much, but her meeting with

President Clinton on that airplane was the capper for me, and I then said, you know what? The department cannot by itself credibly end this.

SCIUTTO: Pressed by Democrats on why he confirmed the investigation of Clinton but not a concurrent probe, Trump campaign ties to Russia, Director

Comey argued it was a matter of time. Too early in the Trump investigation, not so for the Clinton probe.

On multiple occasions, Comey contradicted President Trump on Russian interference in the U.S. election expressing high confidence that Russia

carried out the hacking and confidence as well that Russia preferred Trump to win.

Comey also defended his decision to notify Congress on October 28th, just days before at the election, that the FBI was reopening the investigation

into Clinton's e-mail practices after the discovery of new e-mails from long time Clinton aide Huma Abedin, on the computer of her then husband,

former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

COMEY: Somehow her emails are being forwarded to Anthony Weiner, including classified information. His then spouse Huma Abedin appears to have had a

regular practice of forward emails to him for him I think to print out for her so she could then deliver them to the secretary of state.

SCIUTTO: It was that discovery that led Comey to write his now infamous 11th hour letter to Congress.

COMEY: I had to tell congress that we were taking these additional steps. I prayed to find a third door, I couldn't find it. Two actions, speak or

conceal. I don't think many reasonable people would do it differently than I did.

SCIUTTO: Also a topic of questioning, leaks. Director Comey when pressed said he has not leaked any classified information about the Russian

investigation to reporters. He says he has snot authorized his staff to leak any information. When asked, however, if he's investigating leaks

from inside the intelligence community, Director Comey would not comment.

Jim Sciutto, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[08:15:16] LU STOUT: All right, for reaction from Russia, let's go live to CNN's Diana

Magnay. She joins us from Moscow.

And Diana, director Comey confirmed that the FBI probe and the links between the Trump campaign and Russia is still underway, so what's the

reaction there?

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Russia's foreign minister is in Helsinki. He's just finished giving a press conference.

And of course, he touched on this matter. It doesn't stray in any way away from the Kremlin's line to date.

But he said the Russia phobia, he called it, that began under President Obama's tenure still clearly exists in the U.S. and that it is this Russo-

phobic tendency, he said, which is being used in a domestic internal political struggle by those who feel that the election didn't go their way.

So quite strong comments there.

And once again, he repeated his call for evidence and saw there is not a scrap of evidence that

substantiates what the FBI is saying, not about America and also about alleged interference in any other country's elections. And finally he said

that this was effectively a propaganda campaign being waged to undermine Russia, which is effectively the mirror image of the charge being laid

against Russia, that what they are doing is a misinformation campaign in various countries that are holding elections to undermine western

institutions - Kristie.

LU STOUT: And Diana, I also want to hear Russian reaction to another element of

Comey's testimony, when he said that the Russian president Vladimir Putin preferred Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton as U.S. president because Trump

was someone who he could strike a deal with. He was a businessman. And he, quote, hated Hillary Clinton.

How is that being weighed in Moscow?

MAGNAY: Well, the official line on that is as it has always been, that Russia does not favor one candidate over the other. I think it's no secret

that President Putin and Hillary Clinton did not get on. Her tenure as secretary of state started with an attempt to reset Russia relations and

ended in a pretty low trough, effectively around the time of the (inaudible) protests here, these mass demonstrations in 2012 against

President Putin where the Kremlin felt that the U.S. State Department was egging the protesters on.

So, but big picture if you look at this, it's probably less this idea that the Kremlin is some kind of kleptocracy, which favors deal making and

businessmen such as trump and more that, if you pursue this idea that the Kremlin is trying to undermine western institutions and that is one

accusation leveled against it, which clearly the FBI and other U.S. intelligence agencies hold, then a candidate such as Donald Trump is going

to be preferable to a candidate such as Hillary Clinton who is a savvy political operator and has had many years of experience dealing with the

Russian government, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Diana Magnay reporting live from Moscow. Thank you.

Now meanwhile, it looks like the Trump administration is making anotherconcession to Beijing. Now, CNN has learned that the Pentagon

turned down a request by the U.S. navy to carry out a so-called freedom of navigation patrol in the South China Sea. Matt Rivers has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Trump administration wants to get along with China, and that has led to a major change for U.S. policy

in the South China Sea for now.

During the Obama administration, the U.S. Navy occasionally sailed within 12 nautical miles of Chinese made artificial islands in the South China

Sea. The so-called Freedom of Navigation Operations were designed to challenge the Chinese territorial claims as illegitimate. Each operation

prompted an angry response from Beijing, which argues these islands are legal.

In the last 18 months, there were three such operations, all under President Obama. A senior U.S. defense official told CNN the military

requested to conduct another after President Trump took office, but the request was denied, as first reported by "The New York Times". The official

said several reasons were behind the lack of action, including an effort inside the Pentagon to turn down the temperature of operations that could

be viewed as antagonizing China or North Korea. That official also said there will be a broader of all Freedom of Navigation exercises.

The change in policy is a stark departure for the administration, but not the first such about-face. During his confirmation hearings, Secretary of

State Rex Tillerson even proposed preventing the Chinese from accessing the artificial islands.

[08:20:05] REX TILLERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE: In my view, building islands and then putting military assets on those islands is akin to Russia's

taking of Crimea.

RIVERS (on camera): The change in policy is a part of a number of things that President Trump promised to do in regards to China, but hasn't so far.

He has backed off on threats over things like currency manipulation, tariffs on Chinese imports and on reevaluating the One China policy. It's a

new approach that appears to center on the biggest joint issue of them all, North Korea.

TRUMP: We have a very big problem in North Korea. And as I said, I really think that China is going to try very hard and has already started.

RIVERS (voice-over): The president wants to prod China to use its economic influence to force Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons program. The

administration seems to believe that provoking the Chinese on issues like South China Sea island building or perceived unfair trade practices might

make that harder. So, for now, it looks like they're on the backburner, while the Chinese continue to militarize those artificial islands and

increase their strategic capabilities far beyond its shores.

As of now, the United States won't challenge them.

Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still ahead Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron trade jabs in their last debate before France's

presidential election runoff.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong. Welcome back. You're watching News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.

SOARES: I'm Isa Soares outside Buckingham Palace here in London where we're marking a remarkable moment in British history, not just British

history, British royal history. Prince Philip is stepping aside from public life after 65 years of service.

Now, earlier Philip was alongside Queen Elizabeth to attend a church ceremony at St. James'

Palace. It was there that he attend a service for members of the Order of Merit at Chapel Royal who then goes on to attend a luncheon as you can see

the footage of them both walking in.

Now the queen, meanwhile, is to continue her royal duties as normal. Here's what British Prime Minister Theresa May had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: On behalf of the whole country, I wanted to offer our deepest gratitude and good wishes to his royal

highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, following today's announcement that he will stand down from public duties in the autumn. From his steadfast

support for her majesty the queen to his inspirational Duke of Edinburgh awards, and his patronage of hundreds of charities and good causes, his

contribution to our United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world will be of huge benefit to us all for years to come.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: We've also been hearing from former prime ministers and leaders of different parties, political parties in the UK, of course, all paying

tribute to the life he's rededicated himself to, to country and to duty of the UK.

Now, when Philip finally does retire this very autumn, it will bring an end to a remarkable royal career spanning six-and-a-half decades. Now, in that

time, take a look at this, he's made more than 22,000 solo engagements, more than 600 overseas, delivered nearly 5,500 speeches and written no less

than 14 books, probably puts everything in perspective as to why he's decided to put his feet up somewhat. All of this, of course, Kristie,

worth remembering. He's also been married for 70 years. He is father, grandfather. It is a busy schedule, and that explains really why he's

decided to step back, step down from many of his responsibilities.

LU STOUT: All right, Isa Soares, there, many thanks indeed for that. Now, French voters, meanwhile, they are weighing their choice for president

after the last debate of the campaign turn into a heated battle. The far right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron traded barbs over

radically different solutions on key issues like immigration, a stagnate economy and terrorism. And relations with Russia, now that also came up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARINE LE PEN, NATIONAL FRONT PARTY LEADER (through translator): I think we need to keep our distance from both Russia and U.S. No reason to wage

cold war against Russia. We have every interest to engage, diplomatic, commercial and strategic relations because it is a major power and Russia

hasn't shown any hostility towards France.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: OK. And during one contentious exchange, Emmanuel Macron slammed Marine Le Pen's National Front Party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): I am talking about the party of the far right, the one that you lead, the party

that spreads lies on social media which encourages hatred, molests journalists who generously dispense brutality everywhere.

LE PEN (through translator): We have never molested anyone.

MACRON (through translator): You did on several occasions. At my at my meetings, you have threatened and beaten people. And I have experienced

that. That is the truth, Ms. Le Pen. So, it is your party, the party of the far right, which has no resemblance to our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAYES: It has been described as a fiery debate. Emmanuel Macron has been leading

in the polls ahead of the big vote on Sunday. And Jim Bittermann took the electoral temperature with some of Macron's supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So time to hit the road again in our finally-tuned electoral machine here, Rene the Renault. We're

going to be out on a hunt this time around for voters for the centrist candidate in the presidential elections, Emmanuel Macron.

And they are not hard to find since he is leading in the polls. We found four willing to go for

a car pool confab: a retired school teacher, an international business consultant, a philosophy professor, and a municipal police officer.

But Macron was the first choice of only one of the four.

Guy says he has been with Macron from the start.

MAJ. GUY VINCERE, MUNICIPAL POLICE (through translator): I like the way he sees things, his optimism. His main concern is not where we come from, but

where we are going, what we can do together.

BITTERMANN: Michelle had hopes for an extreme left candidate. But when he was eliminated in the first round of voting, she decided to, quote, avoid

the worst, meaning extreme right wing candidate Marine Le Pen, so she will reluctantly vote macron.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I hope he won't forget that many people voted for him by default.

BITTERMANN: And she worries his reforms will go too far.

Olivier is concerned about that, too, but will also vote for Macron.

OLIVIER DHILLY, PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR: Since Marine Le Pen was on the second run, I decided to vote for Macron.

BITTERMANN: That's who Jean-Francois will vote for, too, even if he's a bit skeptical about how Macron will handle security and the terrorism

problem.

JEAN-FRANCOIS COURT, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTANT: I think he's been soft on some of the issues, (inaudible) and things like that. That's what

bothers me.

BITTERMANN: But Guy, but the police officer, disagrees.

VINCERE (through translator): What Macron has said so far goes in the direction of a strengthened security, stronger police, so he can ensure the

safety of the French.

BITTERMANN: Unlike some critics, Guy believes Macron's youth is a positive thing as

does Jean-Francois and the others.

DHILLY: We have a lot of (inaudible) in France, you know that. It's about time.

BITTERMANN: About time for them to retire.

And all also agree it would be a disaster if Le Pen were to be elected.

COURT: I would be panic stricken for sure if Le Pen is elected, I'll leave the country.

BITTERMANN: So, while less than a quarter of French voters favor Emmanuel Macron in the first round of the French election, he could well win more

than half of French votes on Sunday simply because people will vote against his opponent.

[08:30:12] DHILLY: It is said on the first round you choose and on the second round you eliminate.

BITTERMANN: Jim Bittermann, CNN, Frense (ph), France.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And we'll have much more to come from Isa Soares at Buckingham Palace on

News Stream.

SOARES: Of course. We'll be hearing from top politicians here in the country reacting to the news that Prince Philip is stepping aside from

public engagement, many of which paying tribute to a life of service, to queen and country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:34:32] LU STOUT: Now, let's go back to our Isa Soares standing by in London - Isa.

SOARES: Thanks very much, Kristie. Let's get more on Prince Philip's decision to step away from this public duty, joined by royal commentator

Richard Fitzwilliams who joins us from our London bureau. Richard, always great to get your insight on this.

The announcement came as a surprise to many, but Prince is going to be 96 I believe next month. Should we be surprised?

RICHARD FITZWILLIAMS, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Well, of course we shouldn't. You're absolutely right. And the reason it came as such a surprise is he's

always been so athletic. He has an iron constitution.

What this is, of course, is a practical and dignified realization that, firstly, he's earned his retirement. I remember Max mentioned earlier he's

done 20,000 official engagements during the queen's reign which is stunning. But also, this is a dignified way of handling it because he

won't, I hope, be, so to speak, be unseen. What we will be seeing, I'm sure, in state occasions (inaudible), certain occasions which are very

special to him and the queen - and don't forget his platinum wedding anniversary, 70 years, since 1947 to the queen in November. I'm sure we'll

be seeing him then.

SOARES: Yeah, and of course, Richard, our viewers will know we've been mentioning all this morning that he's, of course, a patron, a member, a

president of than 780 organizations, or so. He will be standing by them, not appearing publicly of course.

But talk to us a bit about what happens in terms of the workload. How will that be spread?

FITZWILLIAMS: The workload will be spread because the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, will be returning to Kensington Palace, making

it their official base. They're currently in Admiral Hall (ph) where William is a pilot. And this will be in the summer.

Prince Harry will be taking on more, possibly Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall. The

royal family spread around, 4,700 engagements. And the fact that Prince Philip is attached to 680 organizations, patronages, it is almost super

human what he's managed to do over the years. He's now earned a step back whilst others take up. And it is royal patronage is very, very

considerably valued.

But it's an amazing career that Prince Philip has had. And I must say, looking back from

the war years also to the career he would have liked to in the navy, to have supported the monarch and also the institution of monarchy and the way

he has, it's been truly phenomenal. And he's, of course, as you know, got his characteristic idiosyncratic style of doing so.

SOARES: And of course, Richard, on that, his style, we've got examples here. He's very well known for his colorful comments. He's credited as

saying I declare this thing open, whatever it is, on a visit back to Canada back in 1969. And he said, you know, when a man opens a door for his wife,

it's either a new car or a new wife. This is him talking about marriage. And e finally he said, I wish he'd turn the microphone off. And that was

as he watched a performance by Sir Elton John in 2001.

Media of course will miss him terribly for these comments as will the British public.

FITZWILLIAMS: Well, you're absolutely right. But something else may come out of this, too, because some of the quotes, the quips that you've just

mentioned, they've had people laughing or sometimes rather infuriated over the years, but they've tended to detract from the serious nature of so much

of what he does, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme which has helped millions, throughout the world, various aspects of design, such as the

royal Britannia or the queen's gallery, work for charity, including the World Wildlife Fund, and also the fact that when he appears in future - and

I do hope we see a great deal of him, I'm sure he does, too, his appearances will have a special cachet about them, won't they?

SOARES: Absolutely. He shall indeed be missed. And of course, he will still be appearing in certain public events, not as busy as he has been.

Richard Fitzwilliams, always wonderful to speak to you. And Kristie, of course, I'm sure the queen will also miss him having by her side on more of

these public engagements, by he side, or just a few steps behind her. Of course, they've been married for almost 70 years, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, but after, as Richard put it, a super human workload, decades of service. He's due for retirement. After all, next month he's

going to be 96 years old.

Isa Soares, thank you.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come, Donald Trump and his distinctive verbal style and

the possible explanation for it. Keep it here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:41:15] LU STOUT: Welcome back. Well, he's got the world's attention, whether he speaks or tweets, so why does U.S. President Donald Trump refer

to himself in the third person? Jeanne Moos looks for answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He's first when it comes to the third person --

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump.

MOOS: -- and this week he did it in a tweet. That's Trump, himself, tweeting, "Perhaps Trump just ran a great campaign?" which prompted author

J.K. Rowling to poke the president. "I wonder whether Trump talks to Trump's self in the third Trumperson when Trump's alone?"

TRUMP: If Putin likes Donald Trump --

You wouldn't even be hearing about the word immigration if it wasn't for Donald Trump.

Trump was able to get him to give something. I don't know what the hell it was but it doesn't matter.

MOOS: This is a man who tweeted, "Congratulations,Donald" on his own "Apprentice" ratings. He said, "Thanks, Donald" when consumer confidence

went up. But, Donald doesn't have a monopoly on thanking himself. Remember this guy --

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thanks, Obama.

MOOS: -- thanking himself for lower gas prices? You know, there's actually a technical term for this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Illeism.

MOOS: Psychologist Kevin Volkan has two theories for President Trump's use of a third person.

KEVIN VOLKAN, PSYCHOLOGIST: I think it's either he's branding himself which you know, of course, he's very good at and I think he does that almost

unconsciously. And I think also this could be, you know, indicative of narcissism where, you know, you're constantly referring to yourself.

TRUMP: No side tracks, Donald. Nice and easy.

VOLKAN: You want the world to revolve around you.

MOOS: Psychologists say toddlers are often illeis before they fully grasp the concept of I and me, like Elmo.

ELMO: And now, Elmo has a question for you.

MOOS: Tweeted one Trump critic, "He gives third person talkers like Cookie Monster a bad name."

COOKIE MONSTER: So, Cookie Monster alive.

MOOS: Forget cookies. The president likes his own name in his mouth.

TRUMP: And then Donald Trump -- Donald Trump -- Trump -- Donald -- Donald Trump.

COOKIE MONSTER: Cookie Monster.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --

TRUMP: Stay on point, Donald, stay on point.

MOOS: -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And, of course, we'll have much more - no, that's Kristie. And of course we'll have much more from Buckingham Palace in the hours ahead

following, of course, news that Britain's Prince Philip is to step back from public life later this year.

But, for now, that is all from myself, Isa Soares in London, outside Buckingham Palace.

LU STOUT: Isa, thank you. I was just waiting for you to refer to yourself in the third person. I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.

END