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Prince Philip Dead at Age 99; St. Vincent's La Soufriere Volcano Erupts; Russia-Ukraine Tensions. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired April 10, 2021 - 02:00   ET

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

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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello, welcome to our viewers, all around the world, I am Michael Holmes.

We begin with the outpouring of grief for the loss of Prince Philip, longtime patriarch of the British royal family. The husband and companion to Queen Elizabeth, dying on Friday, at Windsor Castle, at the age of 99. We are expecting to hear more about his funeral arrangements in the coming hours. He is set to be honored with gun salutes across the U.K., at noon, local time.

Now the nation's newspapers, paying tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh for his commitment to the queen and decades of public service. And, the world of sport, paying its respect. Two minutes of silence observed at English football matches, throughout the weekend.

Many have been honoring the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, despite the public being urged to not gather or lay flowers due to COVID restrictions. Bianca Nobilo more with more on the legacy Prince Philip leaves behind

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BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tonight, the end of an era in the royal family; Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, passing away today at the age of 99. The man who stood resolutely by the side of Queen Elizabeth II for more than 73 years now lies at Windsor Castle, draped in his personal standard.

The announcement came just after midday, a simple note placed on the gates of Buckingham Palace in London, reading, in part, "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty the Queen announces the death of her beloved husband. The duke's body will remain at Windsor Castle, where members of the royal family will be able to come and pay their respects."

The British prime minister among those paying tribute.

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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.

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NOBILO: A somber silence at the royal families to London residences, Windsor and Buckingham Palace as crowds gathered.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was a big symbol for a lot of people in England, and it's nice to pay our respects to him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have deep respect for the queen. I love her. I think she's a wonderful woman. And I'm very sad for today because she's lost a life partner.

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NOBILO: His death, while a shock to the nation, was not unexpected. In March, the duke left the hospital following a month's stay, where he underwent heart surgery. He left in high spirits. Plans to celebrate his 100th birthday in June continued. Earlier in March, headlines would rock the royal family involving allegations of racism.

MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: Also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.

NOBILO: But Prince Harry making it clear those racist sentiments were not delivered by Prince Philip or the queen.

Since marrying Queen Elizabeth in 1947, Prince Philip left an indelible mark on the many public figures he met, including a host of U.S. presidents, Eisenhower, Ford, Kennedy and Obama.

President Biden, whom Philip never met personally, praised the duke's decades of devoted public service, adding that his legacy will live on.

As funeral arrangements are now being made, questions will inevitably turn to who will attend and whether his grandson, Prince Harry, will make that trip from California. For the next few days, flags will be lowered and a book of condolences opened. The nation will mourn with Her Majesty the Queen at the loss of her beloved husband.

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HOLMES: As the U.K. reacts to the passing, Isa Soares and Phil Black join me now.

Isa, let's start with you at Windsor. Tell us about how people have been honoring Prince Philip.

What have they been telling you?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Michael. People have been pouring into Windsor. We expect similar scenes today, although they have been asked not to do so because of the pandemic, coronavirus, obviously officials trying to avoid mass gatherings.

But people still felt the need to come here and really pay their respects. Many people I spoke to yesterday spoke of the Duke of Edinburgh as a loyal -- and a man who is always standing by the queen. He was always there, told me one lady.

So many others also told me that they can't imagine what the queen must be going through, a woman, who, of course, is so beloved by this country, losing her husband of 73 years. And to many people, it was the fact that he was so steadfast. He was only walking a few feet behind her, out in public.

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SOARES: But inside, he was her closest adviser. So, I think today, we will expect to see more people coming out here to Windsor Castle to actually pay their respects to a man who has dedicated his life to the queen and country -- Michael.

HOLMES: Yes, a great way of putting. Funeral plans have protocols, especially with COVID in place.

What do we expect in terms of arrangements?

SOARES: Well, as you well know, Michael, funeral plans are often planned many years in advance. What we know because of the coronavirus pandemic they have had to be altered as expected. They want to avoid mass crowds and a procession would most likely have to be changed.

We also knew that the duke himself was a no-fuss kind of guy. He didn't want that much attention drawn to him. So, we know that there will not be a state funeral. There won't be a lying-in state. The funeral will actually take place at St. George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, right behind me, the same chapel where Harry and Meghan got married.

And then the questions will arise as to how many people can attend that funeral under coronavirus rules here in the U.K. Only 30 people can attend a funeral.

So, who will be in attendance?

Will Prince Harry come from the United States?

Will he have to quarantine?

Or will he be exempt?

These are all questions that we still do not know. But I was asking one lady yesterday, whether she will show up on the day of the funeral. Will she come out here, despite the fact that they have been asked not to.

She said, absolutely, I will come out here. And I expect many people will do so to pay their respects, Michael.

HOLMES: All right, Isa. Thank you, Isa Soares their outside Windsor Castle.

Let's go to you, Phil Black, in Scotland. Prince Philip had a love and connection, of course, to Scotland. Tell us about that and the reaction there.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Michael. Fair to say he loved the place. His formal association with Scotland came with a title. He became Duke of Edinburgh when he married the queen. But his personal relationship stretched back much further. And it was deeply personal and hugely affectionate.

He went to school in Scotland, a boarding school, famous for making students spend lots of time in the beautiful, rugged, often very cold Scottish outdoors. And it was a hugely formative experience.

He liked it so much, he sent his three sons to the same school. And it was ultimately his experience at that school that inspired him to establish what many are now describing as perhaps his greatest legacy, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, a youth achievement program, that started here in Scotland and spread across the U.K. and around the world.

It has molded, influenced millions of young lives, a program that is designed to challenge and teach young people what they are capable of.

Throughout his life, he and the queen made no secret of their love for Balmoral, their Scottish retreat. It was their summer residence. He loved the landscape, the way of life, the people.

So here in Scotland, he is being remembered as someone who is part of Scotland both publicly and personally. Even here where I am in Shetland, one of Scotland's most remote communities, he's being praised across the Scottish political spectrum.

Scottish politicians are famous for not agreeing on very much but on this they are all praising a dedicated public servant, who they all say left a mark on Scotland. They've also suspended their political campaigns for the upcoming Scottish parliamentary elections, Michael.

HOLMES: Phil Black at Shetland, Scotland, getting snowed on, we should point out. Appreciate that, Phil. Thanks so much.

Well, becoming the prince consort of Queen Elizabeth II way back in 1952, Prince Philip was a formidable royal representative in his own right. As we've been hearing, he was the longest serving royal consort in British history as well as Britain's oldest male royal in history.

According to Buckingham Palace, before retiring from royal duties in 2017, the Duke of Edinburgh gave more than 5,000 speeches, embarked on 637 solo visits to overseas countries and participated in more than 22,000 solo engagements, extraordinary numbers.

Sandro Monetti is the editor-in-chief of the "Hollywood International Filmmaker Magazine." He's also a royal correspondent and joins me now from Los Angeles. When we talk about the relationship, the longest lasting royal consort

in British history -- when we look at his marriage, how do you see that he saw his role, the couple's dynamic?

SANDRO MONETTI, "HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER MAGAZINE": Well, he was never short of the chance to speak up when he didn't agree with something.

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MONETTI: Whether it was having to bow to his bride at the coronation or any details of the kids' education and various other arrangements. Throughout that 73-year marriage, he famously always had to step two paces behind the queen.

But they were very much in step when it came to policy and opinion. He was not only the love of her life but also her greatest confidant.

HOLMES: The queen, of course, is the monarch, the head of state. But Prince Philip, by all accounts, may have played the role of head of the firm, head of the family table, as it were. And, importantly, he came up in an era, of course, where it would've been hard as a man to play second fiddle to a woman.

MONETTI: Certainly. There's so much talk lately about how difficult Meghan found it coming into the royal family. Consider the problems that Prince Philip had. He just wasn't considered "the right sort" by the establishment, the behind-the-scenes figures at the palace.

So, he really had to battle with them as well. And eventually, he came out on top. He took control. And, yes, he really set the course, right from the start, really, deciding that the coronation, for example, should be televised.

Many people got television sets for the first time around the commonwealth just to watch that. So, yes, he is sometimes seen as a bit of a stick in the mud but was actually quite of aggressive, one of the first people to drive an electric car. And, yes, always a big supporter of technology.

It's interesting, talking of technology; his death was announced in the traditional way, with a sign posted outside the royal palaces but, also, at the same time, on Twitter.

HOLMES: Yes. Good point. I suppose in some ways he represents the last of the old guard of British royalty.

How has the family and its role changed in his lifetime?

And might his passing represent change as well?

MONETTI: It truly is the end of an era. And it's made citizens of the commonwealth really reflect that even the queen can't go on forever. And now Her Majesty has lost her husband, her mother and her sister, her three closest confidants. It now, of course, falls to her son, Charles, and her grandson,

William, to take on a much greater role both in support of her and shaping the future of the monarchy. With the passing of Prince Philip, they step up in a way to really chart the course forward.

HOLMES: Yes. You know, obviously, all the people have a connection to him by virtue of just time.

But what has been, in your experience, the view of him by the younger generation?

MONETTI: I can speak to that because your previous correspondent mentioned the importance of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and when I was trying to achieve that program, I both cursed and later adored Prince Philip because, in order to earn my Duke of Edinburgh bronze award, I had to climb up Mt. Snowdon in Wales in freezing conditions.

And I so wanted the award I didn't give up. And it really taught me a lesson in life, always keep going. Never give up. And that scheme has given that message to so many millions of young people around the world. Their success, their attitude, their positivity and their drive is perhaps a huge part of his legacy.

HOLMES: That is a really good point. And I know a few people who struggled to get through to the end of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

I think the TV series, "The Crown," gave a real window into the family in many ways. And it also told the story of how his life changed by marrying into the firm.

How might his life have been different had he not?

MONETTI: Well, I'll take the first point first. Yes, "The Crown" has really represented his life well. This summer, they start shooting the new season in which Jonathan Price will take over from Tobias Menzies, taking on the role of Prince Philip.

And, yes, his life was on a very different course. It was set to be a life in the military. He had such a turbulent family background, Prince Philip, and the military really gave him a sense of family. And that was set to be the way it was. But of course, we know how events unfolded.

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MONETTI: And he gave up his military career for the love of his wife, to devote himself, quite literally, to queen and country really. What a life, extraordinary. Good night, sweet prince.

HOLMES: A life well lived. Fascinating, great conversation, Sandro. Sandro Monetti there.

Still ahead on the program, it was one of the most high-profile marriages, as we've been discussing, in modern history. Yet according to Prince Philip, there was one vital ingredient that made it all work.

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PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH: I think that the main lesson people that we've learned is the one essential ingredient in any happy marriage. It may not be quite so important when things are going well. But it is absolutely vital when things get difficult.

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HOLMES: The La Soufriere volcano on St. Vincent island in the Caribbean is now actively erupting. Scientists say it could go on for weeks. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center says there were at least three explosive events on Friday, sending plumes of ash and smoke into the air, as you can see.

The column of ash has gone approximately four kilometers into the atmosphere. Extraordinary. Parts of the island are covered in smoke, as you can see. Thousands of people in the eruption zone are being ordered to evacuate.

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HOLMES: We are going to take a quick break, when we come back here on the program. Tensions rising on the Russian-Ukrainian border as Russian tanks are deployed to the region.

Why is U.S. considering doing in response?

And is Vladimir Putin less powerful than he would appear or wants us to think?

Stay with us.

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HOLMES: Welcome back.

Myanmar's military junta has sentenced 19 people to death. That's according to Reuters, which cites a military owned TV station. They're accused of killing an associate of an army captain in Yangon. The district where it allegedly happened is now under martial law and a military court handed down the death sentences. A military spokesman says Myanmar is, quote, "returning to normal,"

and the pro-democracy movement is dwindling. But that is not what we're seeing.

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HOLMES (voice-over): Thousands of people, as you can see, are still risking retaliation from security forces to march in demonstrations like these. Reuters reports troops fired grenades at anti-coup protesters on Friday, killing at least 10 people.

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HOLMES: Russia making a show of force along its border with Ukraine; tanks, troop carriers and missile launchers have been deployed toward the southern city of Rostov-on-Don by Ukraine's eastern border.

The U.S. considering sending warships to the Black Sea in support of Ukraine though a Defense official tells CNN they don't see the Russian build-up as quote, "posturing for offensive action." Still, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby says the U.S. is concerned and wants answers from the Russians.

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ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: The Russians are engaged in conducting a military builder buildup along the eastern border of Ukraine and in Crimea, which still belongs to Ukraine. And that is of concern.

And we want to know more about what it is they are doing and what their intentions are because we don't believe it's conducive to security and stability there.

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HOLMES: Timothy Frye is a professor of political science at Columbia University, and he joins me now from New York. He's also the author of "Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia."

Professor, it is a fascinating book. I'll quote one line from it, you said, "If Putin is unrivaled at home, he's not omnipotent."

Explain what you mean by that.

TIMOTHY FRYE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: So, I think most people see Putin as facing no serious challenger and that he can do whatever he wants. But in the book, I argue that Putin is like most autocrats. He faces a host of constraints and difficult tradeoffs.

For example, he needs to cheat to win elections but not cheat so much that he signals weakness. He needs to allow his cronies to engage in corruption in order to enrich themselves and to continue to support him. [02:25:00]

FRYE: At the same time, he needs to be sure that the economy doesn't collapse. He needs to manipulate the media but not so much that people stop watching. He needs to strengthen the security forces to handle repression but not so much that they can turn on him.

And remember, he is doing this in a country 11 time zones, 140 million people, relatively wealthy and well educated. And, of course, he's doing this at a time when his popularity has softened, and economic growth has been stagnant.

So, while he is unrivaled politically, he faces a host of difficult challenges. And his tools for addressing those problems are rather blunt.

HOLMES: And to that point, do you think the world gives him outsized status?

International fears and concerns about him justified, given that very thin rope that you just described that he walks?

FRYE: Yes, certainly. Now he's walking a thin rope. And he's not going from power at any time. But it certainly is in the Kremlin's interest to portray Putin as omnipotent, to give people the impression that he can swing elections with the flip of a button or that he is this mass manipulator that can just pull the wool over Russians' eyes.

But as I documented in the book, there are lots of areas where it's very difficult to manipulate Russians' views. It's not news to them that the economy is stalling, for example.

And Putin's attempts to shift blame to Western countries and economic sanctions have really fallen flat. Russians continue to blame the government for the poor economic performance.

HOLMES: As you say, it is Putin himself who created this sort of system of rewarding elites, buying their loyalty, at the same time crushing the opposition and placating the people even as conditions for those people worsen.

But what are the risks of such a strategy?

FRYE: Well, he faces these dual threats, like all autocrats. Face on the one hand, he needs to keep the inner circle happy so they could continue to support. Him at the same, time he also faces the threat of popular revolt.

This is not unique to Russia, by any stretch. And the problem is that those two goals are often mutually exclusive. A good example comes from the banking sector. This is a sector in which many Russian elites have grown quite wealthy off very kinds of opaque business dealings.

At the same time, Putin cannot allow so much corruption that the banking system collapses. And that would really cause some domestic political instability we've seen in other countries. So, as we look issue by issue, we see that Putin is far from omnipotent and faces these really difficult. Trade-offs

HOLMES: He has changed the rules, so he is basically, essentially leader for life. Governing at least into the 2030s. But given the challenges and the juggling he is having to do, do you see him as leader in five, 10 years?

FRYE: He is very deft tactician. He is a smart strategist in domestic politics. His attempts to extend his rule in office are something that we have seen throughout the region. This is not unique to Putin.

Other autocrats, who rule countries largely on their own, when they have faced term limits, they have done the same thing and changed the constitution in order to stay in power.

The tricky thing is, for rulers of so-called personalist regimes, is that there's no real institutions that they can rely on to facilitate a transfer of power. If in a one-party regime a leader could retire to the military comfortably, or in a military regime the generals can retreat to the barracks.

In these systems there's no soft landing for a ruler like Putin. And actually, if you look over the longer haul, personalist rulers like Putin, when they give up power, tend to end up either in jail, in exile or dead.

Now I'm not say that's happening to Putin or that's happening anytime soon. But it does illustrate the stakes of political change in these kinds of systems that rely on a single individual so heavily.

HOLMES: We're almost out of time but real quick. When it comes to human rights, political oppression, even his military movements, as we're seeing right now in Ukraine and occupied Crimea, he seems at least, on the surface, to be impervious to criticism.

What do you think his mindset is?

FRYE: Well, we've seen his popularity ratings have fallen. And it's generally due to domestic issues. The two sharpest declines have been when he tried to introduce pensions reform that made people quite unhappy.

And Putin would like to rely on popularity rather than on repression. It's much less costly. But it's difficult to rely on popularity when the economy has been really stagnant.

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FRYE: And the more he relies on repression, the more difficult it is to roll that back.

HOLMES: It's a fascinating book, "Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia." Professor Timothy Frye, thank you so much, appreciate it.

FRYE: Oh, it's my pleasure, thank you.

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HOLMES: We are taking a quick break; when we come back, more on the death of Prince Philip. He may have been the Duke of Edinburgh but he is remembered being far beyond some of the tributes being paid around the world, next.

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ELIZABETH II, QUEEN OF ENGLAND: He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years. And I and his whole family and this and many other countries owe him a debt of gratitude, greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.

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HOLMES: Welcome back, I'm Michael Holmes.

Tributes are being paid to Prince Philip, not only just in Britain but across the 50-plus nations that make up the Commonwealth. The Duke of Edinburgh visited Australia on more than 20 occasions. The country's prime minister is sending deep condolences, saying, "The entire Commonwealth family is joined together in sorrow."

Flags have been lowered to half-staff in the country, as they have been in London. In New Zealand, the prime minister has been paying tribute to Prince Philip's charitable work.

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JACINDA ARDERN, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER: For over 50 years, the Duke of Edinburgh awards have connected him to thousands of New Zealand's young people. And, of course, perhaps most importantly, he has served in support of Her Majesty the Queen for many, many years in her service to New Zealand, the Commonwealth and indeed, the world.

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HOLMES: Now for more on the global tribute, Will Ripley is in Hong Kong. Eleni Giokos, in Johannesburg.

Will, more than 50 countries in the commonwealth; the queen, I think, is head of state of more than a dozen.

What is the reaction you've been hearing?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's an extraordinary sight to see so many countries, lowering their flags, including at the Sydney Harbor Bridge where people are remembering the prince. You talked about his philanthropy. You hear from the New Zealand prime minister. The duke was involved in hundreds of charities. Most famously, the

Duke of Edinburgh's award for young people, helping them to build up life skills. There is an award of a different name now, it has changed names, when Hong Kong was handed over from British rule to Chinese rule.

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RIPLEY: But there are thousands of young people, right here, and in 144 countries around the world, who have benefited, directly, from the duke's charitable work and the amount of work that he put in; 22,000 or so solo appearances.

These are not easy events, hosting charity events and greeting world leaders, traveling across the globe. He visited 143 countries, holding military functions and, of course, he had a distinguished career in the navy before he became the consort to the queen.

A lot of the world leaders who met the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have spoken about how inspiring their marriage was. As you mentioned, the queen is still the head of state today of 16 nations. Many more, dozens of nations, when she became the queen in 1952. Her prime minister, Scott Morrison, who met with the royal couple, had a touching anecdote.

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SCOTT MORRISON, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: She has been there for us over such a long time. Let us be there now for you, Your Majesty, and allow us to send our love to you on this, I am sure, one of your most sad of days.

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RIPLEY: This tweet, from the former Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, says, "Farewell, Prince Philip, always charming to this republican but never more so than at Malta 2015, when he relived his young life with his young wife, not yet a queen. He spoke of love, adventure, eyes sparkling. He banished time. And we could see how he won Elizabeth's heart."

That is a sentiment shared across the 54 countries of the Commonwealth, countries here in Asia and Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, this family of nations, now mourning together for the loss of the duke and sending their condolences.

HOLMES: Great reporting, thank you, Will, fascinating.

Eleni Giokos, in Johannesburg, I think that Africa is the continent with the most Commonwealth nations.

How is the duke's passing being viewed there?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: Out of the 54 Commonwealth countries, 19 of those are in Africa and there has been strong times between the African continent and of course, the monarchy. In Queen Elizabeth's reign, we have seen those ties, really, be propelled forward. Prince Philip has been part of that story.

He has traveled, accompanied the queen on many tours and state visits on the continent, public engagements as well. But looking at the blessings and well wishes to the queen, we have heard from the Cameroonian president, the Tanzanian president, from Gambia and across the board.

Here in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa is also relaying his sentiments, saying he was a remarkable public figure who lived an extraordinary life and will be fondly remembered by many people, around the world.

Interestingly, the very first visit by Queen Elizabeth and actually she was the princess in 1947, was to South Africa. Shortly thereafter, becoming engaged to Prince Philip, where his life, really, did take a different turn was during their visit to Kenya in 1952.

This is when they found that King George VI had passed away, that meant she would ascend to the throne and Prince Philip gave up his military career. HIs life changed irrevocably after the Kenyan visit.

And hearing from the Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, he says that he has been a towering symbol of family values and the unity of the British people, as well as the entire global community. Michael?

HOLMES: Eleni Giokos, in Johannesburg, thank you so much, good to see you.

Barack Obama, also paying tribute to Prince Philip. The former U.S. president reflecting on the first time he and his wife met the Duke of Edinburgh.

Writing, in part, quote, "As two Americans unaccustomed to palaces and pomp, we didn't know what to expect. We shouldn't have worried. The queen and Prince Philip immediately put us at ease with their grace and generosity, turning a ceremonial occasion into something far more natural, even comfortable. Prince Philip, in particular, was kind and warm with a sharp wit and unfailing good humor."

He goes on to say, "It was our first introduction to the man behind the title and in the years since, our admiration for him has only grown and we will miss him dearly."

Now the relationship between Prince Philip and the queen is considered one of the greatest royal love stories in modern times. They were married, of course, for seven decades, after first meeting in the 1930s. Max Foster, looking back at this extraordinary romance, mixing undying love of country and each other.

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MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a love affair that lasted more than seven decades. As Queen Elizabeth celebrated jubilee after jubilee and went on to become the longest serving British monarch in history, Philip was always by her side.

A charter companion to the queen, Margaret Rhodes, was a bridesmaid at her wedding and was in no doubt that it was a marriage based on love.

MARGARET RHODES, COMPANION TO THE QUEEN: I think she fell in love when she was 13. I mean, God, he was good looking. You know, he was sort of a Viking god.

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RHODES: She never looked at anybody else, ever. I think he really, truly, has been a rock.

FOSTER (voice-over): The couple married in Westminster Abbey on November 20th, 1947. Since then, Prince Philip was an almost constant presence at the queen's side. If this companionship came at a personal price, it was one that he was prepared to pay.

RHODES: Just to have been there all the time behind her and really to have sacrificed his life. He did it, too, sacrificed his life. Gladly would have loved to have gone on in Navy and really made a career out of that. So he sacrificed, too.

And so I think it's made for a wonderfully solid marriage.

FOSTER (voice-over): The queen and Prince Philip met before the Second World War when he was a young naval cadet.

ROBERT HARDMAN, AUTHOR: And his number one job from the word go has been to, quote, "support the queen." Everything he does is in support of the queen. And it's just been one of the great royal romances, I think, of history.

People talk about Victoria and Albert as a phrase that dripped of the tongue and I have no doubt that in years to come people will talk about Elizabeth and Philip in exactly the same way.

FOSTER (voice-over): As part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the queen toured the U.K. and, with her, the handsome prince she met as a shy teenager, the man who was always by her side.

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HOLMES: Max Foster, reporting there. I'm Michael Holmes, thanks for your company, with more CNN NEWSROOM, "MARKETPLACE AFRICA" is next, we leave you with live pictures from Windsor Castle.