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Prince Philip Dead at 99. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired April 09, 2021 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: At Prime Minister Boris Johnson's residence have been lowered to half-staff.
[08:00:06]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it
remains the institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: These are live pictures right now, Buckingham palace as you see there. The country learning of this news, which really has implications
around the globe.
CNN royal correspondent Max Foster joining us now from London.
Max, we know that the prince had just been in the hospital for some time. And yet, I think this was somewhat surprising for many people to learn this
morning of his passing.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he's been in hospital so many times, hasn't he? And he's always come out. It's interest hearing Boris
Johnson talking there about Prince Philip's carriage driving. He was very energetic, very busy, even until relatively recently. And he was back at
Windsor Castle having been in hospital for a month, initially with an infection, then had a procedure on his heart, and clearly, he deteriorated
recently.
And it was just a few hours ago that he sadly died. The family would have been informed before us. They clearly got hold of everyone, including
Prince Harry in California. But thoughts currently, of course, with the Queen who is in Windsor Castle on her own. They were in a bubble, Philip
and the Queen, in Windsor with some key staff. And now she's on her own.
And as Boris Johnson was describing there, he really did steer -- help steer the British monarchy. Of course, the Queen was up front, she was the
head of state. She made the final decisions. But he was her key adviser, her confidante.
And behind the scenes as well, he was patriarch, very much patriarch of the family, making a lot of the key family decisions.
(AUDIO GAP)
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: -- coming into light about how the kingdom will observe his passing over the next several days.
FOSTER: We'll have to wait and see. There is a plan in place, both within a pandemic and the lockdown. One version there, and another version if we
were out of lockdown. We're still currently in lockdown, even if the restrictions are loosening somewhat.
But the plans are never official until the Queen has signed them off. So she'll be looking at that currently.
I know that Prince Philip was intimately involved in his own funeral plans. Frankly, he wanted certain things reflected. His military achievements and
also his work with the WWF, the conservation work, for example, that was all reflected there. But they can't have the procession you London. They
can't have floral memorials because they don't want to encourage crowds.
So what I think will happen, what I assume will happen at this point is the body will be kept at Windsor Castle. Staff and family will be able to pay
their respects over the next few days, and then they'll try to come up with some sort of COVID-ready plan, really, for a funeral, which will take place
at Windsor Castle.
It has been an extraordinary life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (voice-over): They were married for more than seven decades, but have been destined for each other since childhood, according to one of
Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids.
MARGARET RHODES, COUSIN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II: I think she fell in love when she was 13. He was good looking. He was sort of a Viking god. She
never looked at anybody else, ever. And I think he really truly has been a rock.
FOSTER: The couple married in Westminster Abbey on November the 20th, 1947. For the rest of his life, Prince Philip was a near constant presence
at the Queen's side. He gave a rare insight into life behind palace walls when celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
PRINCE PHILLIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH: I think that the main lesson that we've learned is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy
marriage. It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when things get difficult. And you can take it from
me, that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.
(LAUGHTER)
FOSTER: If this companionship came at a professional cost, it was one Prince Philip was prepared to pay.
RHODES: Just to be there all the time behind her and really to sacrifice his life. He did it, too, sacrificed his life. I think he would have loved
to have gone on the Navy and really made a career out of that. So he sacrificed, too. And so, I think it's made for a wonderful, solid marriage.
[08:05:01]
FOSTER: The Queen and Lieutenant Mountbatten met before the Second World War when he was a young naval cadet.
ROBERT HARDMAN, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: His number one job from the word go has been to, quote, support the Queen. Everything he does is in support of the
Queen.
It's just been one of the great royal romances, I think, of history. People talk about Victoria and Albert. It's a phrase which just trips off 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: Famous for his energy, the duke's health inevitably deteriorated as he headed into old age.
The royal family Christmas was disrupted in 2011 when Philip had to be taken to hospital for minor heart surgery. Five months later, during the
Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations, Philip had to go to hospital again, this time with a bladder infection.
Family came and went, and within days, Philip was well enough to return home, but not to return immediately to his public duties.
In the spring of 2017, Prince Philip effectively announced his retirement, saying he would give up official royal duties. A year-and- a-half later, he
was involved in a car crash, raising questions about whether he should be driving at the age of 97.
Then public appearances were reserved for special occasions, such as Lady Gabriella Windsor's wedding in May, 2019.
Prince Philip had been patron or president of some 800 charities, including the WWF. He was a renowned environmental campaigner. He also had his own
royal heritage, being born into the Greek and Danish royal families. But he renounced those titles when he took British citizenship in 1947.
So, what of his role in the British monarchy?
CONSTANTINE II OF GREECE, PRINCE PHILIP'S COUSIN: I think it was pivotal, because he was the head of the family. He was the fiber to be that, and he
does that extremely well.
FOSTER: Would it have been difficult for him always in public to be taking a back seat to his wife?
CONSTANTINE II: I would have thought that anybody with that responsibility would find it, I would say, taxing. But you -- when you have this whole
concept in your blood, and you keep your sense of humor and your sense of dignity, and you carry it out beautifully.
FOSTER: And one thing Prince Philip certainly had was a sense of humor, and a tendency to make gaffes.
On a trip to Australia in 2002, he asked an aboriginal leader, do you still throw spears at each other?
And when meeting the Obamas in 2009, a reference to world leaders.
PRINCE PHILIP: Can you tell the difference between them?
FOSTER: Prince Philip, serviceman, campaigner, great grandfather, and a beloved husband.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: CNN's Anna Stewart is live outside of Buckingham Palace for us at this hour, where I would imagine people are starting to make their way to
Buckingham Palace as people often do as a way of paying their respects. What are you seeing there this morning? Or actually, I should say this
afternoon in London?
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: We are -- yeah, we are already beginning to see some people coming out to Buckingham Palace to see what's going on. The
news, of course, only came out really within the last hour. You can see the flag is flying at half-mast over Buckingham Palace.
And this is a nation going into mourning now. This is a man, Prince Philip, who served his country for 65 years. He'll be remembered for a fantastic
legacy of public work, official duties. He attended some 22,000 engagements all by himself.
He worked with the Queen. It's been a marriage of 73 years. He leaves behind a nation in mourning. His wife, the Queen, four children, eight
grandchildren, and 10 great- grandchildren.
You can expect the next few days for everyone to remember Prince Philip, his passions for life, his military career, his extraordinary upbringing.
There's lots more to come in the story of Prince Philip.
BERMAN: Anna Stewart, thank you very much. Stand by for us there.
Joining us now, Max Foster, also with us, CNN royal commentator Kate Williams. And Kate, 99-years-old, Prince Philip in so many ways the center,
or a center of that family, but also a bridge to a different world era. His brother, the deposed king of Greece -- just a different imperial era in the
entire world. This is a moment in history.
KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: It is a moment in history. And Prince Philip, he was born in 1921, had to flee from Greece because the
monarchy was under threat. It was deposed. His family was thought to be under threat as well.
[08:10:00]
And Prince Philip, he was born just a few years after World War I and, of course, served in World War II, and he served so bravely in World War II.
And so many of those who served in World War II, they are no longer with us. We have lost so many veterans. And the Queen herself has also served in
World War II, and every time she is with veterans, she is just so sad.
Here she is, her own beloved husband. They were devoted to each other throughout World War II. He was devoted on the side of the allies. They
have this wartime correspondence. As soon as the war was over, they got married.
He really is the end of an era. Prince Philip was a man who saw nearly all of the 20th century and all the 21st century so far, so everything has
changed. Technology, the world, travel. He is our longest married, longest serving consort, the longest married monarch, 73 years. It is so sad that
he has died just a few months short of his 100th birthday. And a man who, above all, devoted service first to the monarchy and to the country and to
his causes.
HILL: Max, as Kate just touched on, his devotion there to the monarchy, to the Queen, his wife. We know he was pivotal for her, as you pointed out in
your piece, especially when it came to certain decision makings.
But he was also a key part of the royal family in terms of the actual family sense. You mentioned the fact that obviously the family would have
been notified before word went out to the public of his passing.
And, Max, I couldn't help but notice you said, of course, Harry would have been notified, even though he's in California. There's been much made of
the relationship between Harry and his grandparents, especially in the last several weeks.
Can you just put into perspective how integral Prince Philip was in those conversations in keeping the family together, or trying to bridge the gap
there?
FOSTER: Well, it's interesting that you mention Harry there, because you'll remember that after that Oprah interview, he went out of his way to
mention to Oprah afterwards that the race comment, regarding his unborn son at the time, wasn't in reference to the Queen or Philip.
So the Queen and Philip are on a different level for this family. They are the patriarch, the matriarch of the family. The Queen is head of state,
head of the armed forces. So out front, she is the leader.
Behind the scenes, Philip was very much in control, would make key decisions about where his children would go to school, for example. He
would bang heads together. I'm sure he was involved in conversations behind the scenes about the Sussexes leaving their royal roles, for example.
It's interesting, when you met him, you have to adjust to this now. It's so hard to imagine, as Kate was saying. he was married for more than 70 years.
It's extraordinary. And he was in our lives for that period of time.
But he was a very dominant figure. He made his own decisions. And his staff really had no control over him. He would wander through Buckingham Palace
doing exactly as he wished.
And I think it was very difficult for him to adjust to playing second fiddle to the Queen, and I think they, frankly, came to a decision very
early on that he would lead on big family decisions, lead behind the scenes while she led out front and in public. And he found his own groove, if you
like, his own role, his own purpose. And that's really the sacrifice that he made, but also the contribution, too.
BERMAN: Kate, talk about legacy for the family and for the kingdom.
WILLIAMS: There is such a great legacy. And Prince Philip, really -- he really left a great legacy of service. And all of his charities. We just
think he retired in 2017. Really, it's incredible to think how much he did, how long he was going for.
And I think what Prince Philip really has left is a legacy that's very hard to live up to. He was completely devoted to the monarchy, and it was a
surprise to both him and the Queen to -- that she came to the throne so early. The king, George VI, he died very early. He was just in his 50s. It
was very young.
Both the Queen and Prince Philip expected that they would have many more years, that the Queen would come to the throne when she was, say, 40 or so,
the duke mid-40s. And he had to give up so much so early. His naval career.
Just as Max was saying, it was a difficult thing for such a determined, such an alpha male to then have to walk behind the Queen to be the support.
But he devoted himself to it absolutely. And his legacy, I think, is one of great devotion to the monarchy, and also so many of his causes for veterans
and particularly for the environment, his work for the WWF.
When Prince Philip was talking about the importance of conservation, it really wasn't very fashionable. People didn't really know what it was, and
he really brought it to the forefront. And now it's so important.
And also the Duke of Edinburgh was that many people in Britain have done, I did it myself, in which it really was to try and give young people an idea
and a sense of empowerment and a sense of enthusiasm in what they could do and what they couldn't do.
[08:15:05]
We all went on to sort of campaign trips, you know, living for ourselves, which is a challenge when I was 15 or 16.
But, you know, the legacy he's left for young people, for conservation and for devotion to the monarchy. He really has been someone who will go down
in history as getting -- he was given a role and he took it, and though it was difficult at times, there were ups and downs. He was determined to make
the best of it.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Kate Williams, Max Foster, our thanks to both of you.
Again, you are looking at pictures of the late Prince Philip. The news this morning, Prince Philip, dead at the age of 99.
Our coverage continues after this.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news into CNN this hour. Britain's Prince Philip has died. Buckingham palace released a statement saying the
Queen's husband passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. He was 99 years old.
The duke of Edinburgh spent several weeks in hospital earlier this year and was discharged last month. He was married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years
and is the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch. There you see the live pictures of London where flies are lying after half-mast.
[08:20:02]
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the duke, saying he earned the affection of generations in the U.K. across the commonwealth and around
the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, reactions are pouring in. The Archbishop of Canterbury saying, quote, I join with the rest of the United Kingdom and commonwealth
in mourning the loss of his royal highness, Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh.
We'll have more reaction from the region and around the world indeed coming up.
Let's bring in our correspondents now, our team. Anna Stewart, Max Foster, Sarah Gristwood, and CNN royal commentator Kate Williams.
And let's start with Anna at Buckingham Palace.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Good morning, Becky.
Yes, it's a somber mood at Buckingham Palace. We're starting to see people coming out of the gates. I think there's some disbelief that it's finally
happened. Prince Philip has died at age 99 just two months short of his 100th birthday. And as you said, this comes after many weeks of being
unwell in hospital in London. He was suffering from an infection and treated for a preexisting heart condition. He had a minor operation. It
went well. He returned to Windsor Castle, but sadly, he passed away this morning.
Now, he leaves behind the most extraordinary legacy. As you said, he is the longest-serving consort in British history, married to the queen for 73
years, 65 years of active service, performing official engagements alongside his wife, very much a partnership throughout that time, and also
on his own. He did over 22,000 solo engagements. He was patron of over 600 charitable organizations.
This is a man who really touched the lives of millions of people. Here in the U.K. and around the world. The commonwealth, of course, and he'll be
remembered very fondly over the coming days. We've got so much to talk about his legacy and the life he led -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Max Foster, a quote from Prince Philip himself recently. He said: I try or I think to try and create a memorial for yourself while
you're alive. It's slightly indecent, I think. I'd rather other people decide what legacy I leave. I'm not trying to create one.
And anybody who knew Prince Philip wouldn't be surprised by that sort of comment. But your thoughts if you will on his legacy, on a day that we have
learned that Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh, and the Queen's husband, has passed away at the age of 99?
FOSTER: Well, in terms of memorial, the Queen has ultimate say on that. She will be signing off plans that have been laid out over a period of
years in which frankly Prince Philip was intimately involved with. And I think it's true to say he didn't want a huge amount of fuss. I think the
Queen would like to give him more fuss.
Now it's a question of do you give Prince Philip what he wanted, a lower key funeral or the bigger one that she feels that he deserves. He played an
integral role to her monarchy, the longest monarchy in British history. He was her closest adviser, and, of course, her partner. She was very close to
her mother, very close to her sister, but she lost them in the `90s.
So, the monarchy loses something here. And that means that 16 countries around the world lose something here. The queen won't abdicate, I'm sure of
that. She has always suggested that she would serve throughout her whole life. But what this does mean is she doesn't have that support that she had
previously. Prince Charles, Prince William will step up even more than they had done before.
But I think Prince Philip who in front of the cameras took a couple steps behind. I think that was probably difficult for him, frankly, as a dominant
force, very strong character. But behind the scenes, she was the patriarch of the family. He would make key decisions about anything involving
education, for example, or indeed, more recent family crises like the ones where the Sussex's left their royal roles, and Prince Andrew as well
getting caught up with Jeffrey Epstein.
So, these sorts of things Prince Philip plays into but we never saw that. But I think we'll get a sense of loss, really, in the way that the family
moves forward, Becky.
ANDERSON: Sara, to quote Queen Elizabeth on Prince Philip, he's someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but has been my strength and stay
over these years. And I owe him a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know, she says during a speech on their golden wedding
anniversary back in 1997.
[08:25:08]
SARAH GRISTWOOD, HISTORIAN, AUTHOR OF "ELIZABETH: THE QUEEN AND CROWN": Yes. That's absolutely right. I don't think there's any doubt at all that
he really was the wind beneath her wings. I think now in his latter years, we've almost forgotten the man Prince Philip was and the job he did in the
first years of his wife's reign, because he really was the modernizer of the royal family, you know, helping to reshape it.
And you've been talking about his legacy. I think Prince Philip's legacy really is a royal family, a British monarchy equipped to move into the 21st
century. I think that's his lasting tribute, if you like.
ANDERSON: Kate, he was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on an island of Corfu in Greece in 1921. For those who are less familiar with the
life of Prince Philip, who was he?
KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Well, Prince Philip has a very different childhood. Prince Philip, like Queen Elizabeth, is a descendant
of Queen Victoria. He was part of the Danish royal family, became part of the Greek royal family.
But in the early 1920s, there was a lot of insecurity. The Greek monarchy abdicated and came back. So, Prince Philip and his family fled. He was just
a baby. He and his sisters and his father and mother all had to flee from Greece. He was put in a little crate by a British navy vessel.
After that, he had a difficult childhood. His mother was sent away to a mental asylum. She had a very difficult life. His father really was quite
absent. So, Prince Philip really did bring himself up as a young man, and he found a lot -- he found a lot of strength and a lot of structure in
boarding school in Gordonstoun which did move to. And where Prince Philip really excelled, some ways had a difficult childhood once upon time someone
said to him, what language did you speak at home when you were young? He said where was home?
So he found a real structure in the Navy. He became when he went to Naval College in Dartmouth where he met the young Princess Elizabeth, they jumped
over nets together. She found him charming. She was 13. He was 18.
He was the top level cadet at the time. He was absolutely top and became one of the youngest first lieutenants. He absolutely excelled in the war.
And it's striking because after the war, Prince Philip was often really criticized, anti-German prejudice because of the war and yet he fought so
bravely on the Allied side and saved many, many men from German bombs on the ships. He was a brave and determined and devoted man in the Navy.
And I think that was where he completely excelled. And it was difficult for him to give that up when in 1952 to everyone's surprise, it was -- the king
was so young, George VI was so young. He died and the queen became queen. And suddenly, Prince Philip and his wife were catapulted into this new role
that they hadn't expected at that point for 10 or 15 years.
And he was a man -- saying who was he? He was a man of devotion and great strength. He was a man who really was at the top of his game, and then went
to be the consort of all that isn't always easy, and became the longest serving, a man who only retired in 2017. Did so much for charities, did so
much for causes, and really I think he gave so much to society, so much to this country.
ANDERSON: And for the commonwealth, and Australia's prime minister, Scott Morrison saying Prince Philip was no stranger to Australia having visited
our country on more than 20 occasions. Then going onto say, Australians send our love and deepest condolences to her majesty and all the family.
The commonwealth family joins together in sorrow and thanksgiving for the loss and life of Prince Philip. God bless from all here in Australia.
We're going to take a short break at this point. Prince Philip, the Queen Elizabeth II's husband has died at the age of 99.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:31:58]
ANDERSON: Well, we are already seeing tributes to Prince Philip around London who has passed away at the age of 99. Here's a shot of the BT Tower,
an iconic tower in London with a memorial video now playing at the top.
Well, this is our breaking news this hour. Britain's Prince Philip has died at the age of 99.
The queen we just learned a few moments ago is at Windsor Castle this hour. Buckingham Palace released a statement moments ago saying, the queen's
husband passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. He was married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years and is the longest consort of a
reigning British monarch.
Max Foster has taken a look at the life of Prince Philip and his extraordinary support of the Queen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (voice-over): They were married for more than seven decades, but have been destined for each other since childhood, according to one of
Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids.
MARGARET RHODES, COUSIN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II: I think she fell in love when she was 13. He was good looking. He was sort of a Viking god. She
never looked at anybody else, ever. And I think he really truly has been a rock.
FOSTER: The couple married in Westminster Abbey on November the 20th, 1947. For the rest of his life, Prince Philip was a near constant presence
at the Queen's side. He gave a rare insight into life behind palace walls when celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
PRINCE PHILLIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH: I think that the main lesson that we've learned is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy
marriage. It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when things get difficult. And you can take it from
me, that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.
(LAUGHTER)
FOSTER: If this companionship came at a professional cost, it was one Prince Philip was prepared to pay.
RHODES: Just to be there all the time behind her and really to sacrifice his life. He did it, too, sacrificed his life. I think he would have loved
to have gone on the Navy and really made a career out of that. So he sacrificed, too. And so, I think it's made for a wonderful, solid marriage.
FOSTER: The Queen and Lieutenant Mountbatten met before the Second World War when he was a young naval cadet.
ROBERT HARDMAN, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: His number one job from the word go has been to, quote, support the Queen. Everything he does is in support of the
Queen.
It's just been one of the great royal romances, I think, of history. People talk about Victoria and Albert. It's a phrase which just trips off 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: Famous for his energy, the duke's health inevitably deteriorated as he headed into old age.
[08:35:01]
The royal family Christmas was disrupted in 2011 when Philip had to be taken to hospital for minor heart surgery. Five months later, during the
Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations, Philip had to go to hospital again, this time with a bladder infection.
Family came and went, and within days, Philip was well enough to return home, but not to return immediately to his public duties.
In the spring of 2017, Prince Philip effectively announced his retirement, saying he would give up official royal duties. A year-and- a-half later, he
was involved in a car crash, raising questions about whether he should be driving at the age of 97.
Then public appearances were reserved for special occasions, such as Lady Gabriella Windsor's wedding in May, 2019.
Prince Philip had been patron or president of some 800 charities, including the WWF. He was a renowned environmental campaigner. He also had his own
royal heritage, being born into the Greek and Danish royal families. But he renounced those titles when he took British citizenship in 1947.
So, what of his role in the British monarchy?
CONSTANTINE II OF GREECE, PRINCE PHILIP'S COUSIN: I think it was pivotal, because he was the head of the family. He was the fiber to be that, and he
does that extremely well.
FOSTER: Would it have been difficult for him always in public to be taking a back seat to his wife?
CONSTANTINE II: I would have thought that anybody with that responsibility would find it, I would say, taxing. But you -- when you have this whole
concept in your blood, and you keep your sense of humor and your sense of dignity, and you carry it out beautifully.
FOSTER: And one thing Prince Philip certainly had was a sense of humor, and a tendency to make gaffes.
On a trip to Australia in 2002, he asked an aboriginal leader, do you still throw spears at each other?
And when meeting the Obamas in 2009, a reference to world leaders.
PRINCE PHILIP: Can you tell the difference between them?
FOSTER: Prince Philip, serviceman, campaigner, great grandfather, and a beloved husband.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the world reacting almost immediately far and wide, showing the impact Prince Philip certainly had on the world.
From India: Prime Minister Modi saying, quote: My thoughts are with the British people and the royal family in the passing away of Prince Philip,
duke of Edinburgh. He had a distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives, may his soul rest in
peace.
Kate Williams, royal commentator and historian, is with us. I'm also joined by Sarah Gristwood, a historian and author of "Elizabeth: The Queen and the
Crown". And royal biographer and British photographer, Mark Saunders, my colleague, Anna Stewart also with us out at Buckingham palace.
Before we discuss the life and legacy of Prince Philip with our guests, Anna, just set the scene for us, if you will.
STEWART: Good afternoon, Becky. Well, it's been a couple hours now since the news first broke. You can see a few crowds beginning to gather outside
the gates of Buckingham Palace. I think people wanting to know if it's true, the news that Prince Philip died. The Buckingham Palace saying he
passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle.
Now, of course, Becky, this came just a few weeks really after Prince Philip had returned from the hospital. He was there for a month, being
treated for an infection, also preexisting heart condition, which he did have an operation deemed a success. So it's a great sadness a few weeks
after that after he returned to Windsor Castle to spend time with his wife, the queen, that he has now passed away, and just two months shy of his
100th birthday.
What happens next here will be much more complicated due to the pandemic. You can expect the plans very much to have changed over the coming days. We
should get more confirmation about that soon. But I think this is going to be a nation in mourning.
And looking back at an absolutely extraordinary life, a man who was, well, married to the queen for 73 years. For 65 years he played an official role
as consort to the longest running serving consort in British history. And we got to look at his military career. The charities he's helped. He's
patron for over 650 people. All around the world, I mean, touched by Prince Philip.
ANDERSON: And until very recently, Mark Saunders, as a man of his age who had enjoyed relatively good health. You have spent years covering this
family.
[08:40:04]
Your reflections today?
MARK SAUNDERS, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: Both personal and professional.
Professionally, I always have fond memories. I always will have fond memories of the duke. He was such a great character to work with. I mean, I
don't think there's a correspondent or reporter that met him that doesn't say he was always good copy. He always had something good to see.
But I saw him in many aspects in his private life. He had a wonderful attitude to us, to the press. It was kind of like we were just part of his
life. Not a part that he particularly liked. But he was aware that we were doing our job.
And so, therefore, he always had time. He always had a smile. He always had -- I mean, many times I managed to get a few words with him.
And I just remember that wonderful relationship we had with him which was never really meant to be, but on a personal level, obviously somebody of my
age, I grew up with him. I grew up with him as the queen's husband when I think of the duke, I kind of think of my man to be honest. I was always a
great follower of the royal family.
And so, for me, on a personal level, I feel far more sadder than I actually thought I would.
ANDERSON: More reaction coming in this hour.
The Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, saying, quote, I'm saddened by the news that the duke of Edinburgh has died. I send my personal and
deepest condolences and those of the Scottish government and the people of Scotland to her majesty the queen and the royal family.
Sarah Gristwood, despite his age and for -- obviously we are reflecting on an entire life here. I mean, you know, he was still sort of going strong
until relatively recently. But his legacy and what will endure is the fact that this was a family that needed modernizing at a certain point. And
Prince Philip was the force behind that modernization.
GRISTWOOD: Yes, absolutely, right back from the moment of the queen's coronation when the cameras, the television cameras were allowed into
Westminster Abbey, and there was Prince Philip from that moment on, really, pushing the need for the royal family to adapt and to modernize, something
that doesn't always come easily to the queen.
I mean, Prince Philip once said that the royal family is fighting an election every day. And he put in a lot of work behind the scenes into
making sure that they would win that election.
Now, in the last decades, we've rather lost sight of that. There came a point, you know, when he consciously moved away from that role. You know,
time changed.
So, we have, perhaps, lost sight of it a bit. And it may be only now after his death that we are going to look back sufficiently to really appreciate
what an extraordinary job he did. Both professionally --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Kate Williams, to Sarah's point, yeah, to Sarah's point, Prince Philip describing the royal family as fighting an election every day which
couldn't be more resonant, perhaps, than today. Of course, he's survived by his wife, his four children and his grandchildren, not least, Prince Harry
who has left the U.K. effectively left the royal family, and there has been quite some controversy of late.
WILLIAMS: Well, Prince Philip knows what it's like to be an outsider and marry into the royal family, and really, Prince Philip when he was -- of
course, he was such a devoted consort. He was a man who gave so much to the royal family just as Sara was saying but when he was being considered as
consort, there was a lot of opposition to the queen marrying him, to the Princess Elizabeth as she was at the time.
People thought he was too foreign and she should marry a British aristocrat and he was the wrong type of character and they mocked the fact that he
didn't have a lot of money, or an ancestral home.
So, Prince Philip knew what it was like to be an outsider. And I think throughout his life, he tried to support others who suffered from that
criticism, particularly Princess Diana. And so, he did know what it would be like for Meghan to come into the royal family and suffer the criticism
and the attacks, and -- which she did. I think he very much would have understood that, but, of course, by the time Meghan came into the royal
family, Prince Philip retired in terms of British society in 2017 but also in terms of running the royal family.
[08:45:01]
It was always the deal, the queen would run the country, Prince Philip would run the family. He retired from that.
There were many who think if perhaps Prince Philip had been more central in the royal family, that things wouldn't have gotten to the situation they
did. There would have been more discussion and more support.
But certainly Harry, I think, shows us above all, and Meghan, how hard it is to be a member of the royal family, of course, beyond anything any of us
would imagine, a gilded cage. But it does involves a lot of great suffering, and often, a great internal pain and sacrifice which Prince
Philip always hid, but I think when it came to Harry and Meghan combined with the press attacks, combined with the racism that Meghan was suffering,
it was too much.
ANDERSON: There have been celebrations planned for his 100th birthday and questions as to whether Prince Harry and his wife would attend those. I
guess there will be questioning about whether Prince Harry will come back to the U.K. to mourn the death of his grandfather, indeed, whether, in
fact, he's able to do that, given the COVID protocols and restrictions in place at present.
We've discussed, Mark, the role that Prince Philip has played for so long, so many years for the queen and for the wider family. Who has assumed that
role, and who is it who will play that rock for Queen Elizabeth as she has so often described her husband?
SAUNDERS: It's interesting you ask that question, because I was thinking this morning, if you remember William and Catherine's marriage, we kind of
had this conversation. And -- because that marriage was the old was giving away to the new. Now that the duke is gone, the queen was always stepping
down. Ever so slightly she was stepping down more and more each year.
And Charles and Camilla were taking over a lot of the roles that she was doing, and William and Catherine were taking over a lot of the roles that
Charles and Camilla were doing.
Now, Harry and Meghan were supposed to fill in there, but now they've gone. I think that Charles and Camilla -- I mean, it's an awful thing to say, but
the queen is in the winter of her reign, the deep, deep winter of her reign. And Charles and Camilla are now, I think they're ready to take over.
So I think they will come to the fore, and William and Catherine have -- they've just been so magnificent in their roles. It's good to know that
they're behind Charles and Camilla.
But I think that's what will happen. There will be a slight shift whereas the queen was on her own, you'll now have the four of them, Charles,
Camilla, William and Catherine. And that will become the essence of the British royal family.
It's sad about Harry and Meghan, but I just don't think there's any place for them now.
ANDERSON: Mark Saunders, Kate Williams, Sarah Gristwood, it is terrific having you with us as we reflect on the life of Prince Philip who has died,
of course, at the age of 99. Thank you for joining us.
And as we go to a break, I'm going to leave you with these images of flowers that have been laid despite COVID regulations and restrictions,
people have laid flowers a the gates of the palace. And notice there, put up a couple of hours ago to announce the passing of the queen's husband,
the duke of Edinburgh.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:51:08]
ANDERSON: Breaking news. Britain's Prince Philip has died. Buckingham Palace releasing a statement saying the queen's husband passed away
peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. He was 99 years old.
The duke of Edinburgh spent several weeks in hospital earlier this year, and was only discharged last month. He was married to Queen Elizabeth for
73 years and is the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch.
And live pictures of London where flags are flying at half-mast.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paying tribute to the duke, saying he earned the affection of generations in the U.K., across the commonwealth and
around the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, reactions pouring in. The Archbishop of Canterbury in the U.K. saying, quote, I join with the rest of the United Kingdom and the
commonwealth in mourning the loss of his royal highness, Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh.
And from those representing royal families elsewhere, reaction from this region where, I am. The UAE's ambassador to the U.K. saying, quote, I would
like to offer my deepest condolences to the queen and the British royal family on the passing of Prince Philip, duke of Edinburgh. He will be
remembered as a good friend to the UAE and a positive influence on causes such as sustainability and environmental protection.
Qatar's ambassador to the U.K., Yousef Al-Khater, saying, quote, I am deeply saddened by the passing of his royal highness, the duke of
Edinburgh. We in the state of Qatar, the leadership, and the people send our deepest condolences to her majesty, the queen, the royal family and the
nation. They are all in my thoughts in what is this difficult time.
Well, it was one of the great romances of our time. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip fell in love in 1939. The future queen at the time was only
13 years old. The couple married at Westminster Abbey on November 20th, 1947.
A closer look now at this royal love story by Max Foster.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (voice-over): It was a love affair that lasted more than seven decades. As Queen Elizabeth celebrated jubilee after jubilee and went onto
become the longest-serving British monarch in history, Philip was always by her side.
A chartered 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.
RHODES: I think she fell in love when she was 13. I mean, god, he was good looking. You know? He was a sort of Viking god. He never looked at anybody
else, ever. I think he really, truly, has been a rock.
FOSTER: 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 be there all the time behind her and really to sacrifice his life. He did it, too, sacrificed his life. I think he would have loved
to have gone on the Navy and really made a career out of that. So he sacrificed, too. And so, I think it's made for a wonderful, solid marriage.
FOSTER: The Queen and Prince Philip met before the Second World War when he was a young naval cadet.
ROBERT HARDMAN, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: His number one job from the word go has been to, quote, support the Queen.
[08:55:01]
Everything he does is in support of the Queen.
It's just been one of the great royal romances, I think, of history. People talk about Victoria and Albert. It's a phrase which just trips off 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: 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.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, you see the announcement of Prince Philip's death hung on the Buckingham Palace's gates. Some people gathering to take photos, to
leave flowers and to pay their tributes.
Well, Kate Williams is a royal commentator and historian. She joins us live now.
And we just have a couple minutes before I need to take a break at the top of the hour. So, in those couple of minutes, your reflections today, if you
will, Kate.
WILLIAMS: It's very moving. Britain, of course, as you were saying, we're deep in the midst of COVID like the world. Many people have lost people to
COVID.
Prince Philip is not with COVID, but we know what it's like, so many people can't commemorate those that they've lost. So Prince Philip, we probably
won't be able to see the big ceremony some of us might have expected, a military parade. I think that perhaps he would have wanted to, although he
didn't always say he wants a big funeral.
So, it is moving. And it's very, very moving for the queen just as Max is talking about in the wonderful film about their marriage, she's been in
love with him since she was 13. They've had this long love affair.
And he was the one to break it to her that she would be Queen. Her beloved father was dead. They were in Kenya. Her beloved father was dead and now
much earlier than they expected, she was going to be Queen and he would have to give up his naval career and be the consort.
And he's been a devoted consort. He's always been there for her, only retired in 2017. The patron of over 750 charities, 22,000 engagements. He's
been a man who's devoted to the British royal family.
And I think because he came from this very difficult background, his family were the Greek royal family. They were Danish. But then they became the
Greek royal family. But then he was thrown -- the king was thrown off his throne. Prince Philip and his family had to flee. He was in an orange
crate, he was just a baby.
And he knew from that that the royal family needed to rely on pleasing the public. He always said that we are there at the good will and the service
of the public. So he knew, he never took it for granted and knew it is about service and it's about devotion to duty. And he is -- it's sad that
he's died just a few months short of his 100th birthday and just a few months short of meeting his 11th great grandchild, which would be Harry and
Meghan's little girl which we believe is due in July.
ANDERSON: Kate Williams on the story for you. The news has touched many of us. It's a sad day. Prince Philip passing away at age 99, the nation and a
world now in mourning.
Tributes from leaders have been pouring in. People are already beginning to lay flowers outside Buckingham Palace. And CNN will continue with our
breaking news coverage after this.
My colleague Julia Chatterley will pick up next.
END
