My Prince Philip story

Prince Philip has died at the age of 99. When he retired four years ago, Harry Mount reflected on his meeting with the Duke of Edinburgh and his sense of public service. 

A friend of mine’s father — who knows Prince Philip — calls him ‘a kind of semi-deity’. I realise that’s laying it on a bit thick, when it comes to sycophancy to the Royal Family.

But he’s certainly a quite extraordinary figure: a 95-year-old war hero, who has been working solidly and loyally for nearly 70 years alongside his wife. In November, he and the Queen celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.

This morning’s announcement from Buckingham Palace — that he’s retiring from royal duties this autumn — should have been utterly routine. How many other 95-year-olds are still travelling the length and the breadth of the country, week in, week out?

In fact, the announcement was shocking. Part of it is the batsqueak of mortality that came with the news.