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Funeral To Be Held At Windsor Castle, Won't Be A Stable Funeral; Britain's Prince Philip Dies At The Age of 99; Scotland Remembers Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Myanmar Protesters Defying Military Rule Adopt Three-Finger Salute From "Hunger Games"; Remembering Britain's Prince Philip. Aired 10a-11a ET
Aired April 09, 2021 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: You're looking at live pictures of Buckingham Palace this hour as Britain and indeed the world
pays tribute to Prince Philip who died earlier today. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to our special edition of programming.
It is a very sad day for Britain's Royal Family had mourners around the world Prince Philip has died just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Buckingham Palace made the announcement saying the Queen's beloved husband passed away this morning at Windsor Castle.
Prince Philip had been a constant companion to Queen Elizabeth over the last seven decades always at her side until retiring from public duties
back in 2017. Well, with 73 years of marriage she is the longest serving consort to a British Monarch.
The Duke of Edinburgh had suffered health problems earlier this year spending several weeks in hospital. He also underwent heart surgery last
month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the Duke saying the affection of generations in the UK across the Commonwealth and around the
world have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Like the expert carriage driver has he helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarch that remains
institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, British lawmakers say they will convene parliament on Monday a day earlier than planned to pay tribute to Prince Philip. We'll
this hour be connecting you across the United Kingdom from Belfast to Edinburgh to London and indeed to Windsor where the Queen is in residence
and where as we understand that the Duke of Edinburgh passed away earlier this morning.
CNN's Isa Soares is in Windsor and Anna Stewart joins us from Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip married in 1947. And for the
decades to come, it was rare to see them apart. Let's start with CNN's Max Foster who takes a look back now at the life of the Duke of Edinburgh and
his extraordinary support of Britain's Monarch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They were married for more than seven decades, but they've been destined for each other since childhood
according to one of Queen Elizabeth bridesmaids.
MARGARET RHODES, COUSIN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II: I think she fell in love when she was 13. I thought he was good looking. He'd never looked at
anybody else ever. And I think she truly has been a rock.
FOSTER (voice over): The couple married in Westminster Abbey on November the 20th 1947. For the rest of his life Prince Philip was a near constant
presence of the Queen side. He gave a rare insight into life behind palace walls when celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 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 and abundance.
FOSTER (voice over): If this companionship came at professional costs, it was one Prince Philip was prepared to pay.
RHODES: Just been there all the time behind and ready to sacrifice his life. He did it to sacrifice his life because he would have loved to go on
the navy and really made a career out of that. So he sacrificed too. And so I think it's ready for a wonderful solid marriage.
FOSTER (voice over): 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 in the word go has been to 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 talking about Victoria and Albert as a phrase it's trips off the tongue and
I've no doubt that in the years to come people will talk about Elizabeth and Philip in exactly the same way.
FOSTER (voice over): famous for his energy the Dukes 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 instead.
[10:05:00]
FOSTER (voice over): 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 Windsors 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 a pivotal, pivotal point because he was the head of the family. He was in jail
responsibility as a father to be that he does that extremely well.
FOSTER (on camera): It would have been difficult for him always in public to be taking a backseat to his?
GREECE: I would have thought that anybody who has that responsibility will 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 (voice over): And one thing Prince Philip certainly had been 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 leaving the Obamas in 2009, a reference to world leaders Prince Phillip
servicemen, campaigner, great grandfather and a beloved husband.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, we're just getting new details on the funeral plans. Prince Philip will not have a state funeral instead, his funeral will take place
at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Those were his wishes and of course there will be COVID restrictions. And that means the public will not
be allowed to attend.
Well, Anna is outside Buckingham Palace Isa is in Windsor. And it is Isa as a long standing husband and friend, that the Queen at Windsor Castle
currently will be mourning the loss of Prince Philip today.
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Without a doubt, Becky. Imagine more than seven decades of marriage; a man who wants to step outside the walls of
Windsor Palace is just a couple of feet behind you. In many people's eyes oh, he made me even in his highs that beginning playing second fiddle but
once they're indoors, he was her greatest advisor the love of her life, no doubt, and a very close friend.
And I think we can only imagine the sense of loss that the Queen is feeling right now. I can tell you having been outside Windsor Palace that the mood
is one of somber silence. I've been able to speak to a couple of people to really gauge the mood get a sense of what people are feeling different
generations.
Of course, Becky, and everyone said something stood out for me is that everyone talked about winning how beautiful he was his years of service to
the country, and how dedicated he was to the Queen? And I think that's something I keep hearing time and time again.
For younger generations their point of reference is from the crown. No doubt many of you have seen but they would say he was a colorful figure.
Some say he was controversial, but majority of people all say that it was an incredible man who had incredibly rich life and who gave so much of his
heart for the woman he loved.
People forget that he was born in the UK and of course we're back on a dining table. And then 18 months after being born, he was in an exile. He
of course had a very troubled upbringing. And then he served as a naval officer. He was recognized for his heroism the Second World War.
He fell in love with Prince Elizabeth quite instantly it seems she even flustered a bit when she met him. And then he gave up his royal title to be
with her. And for those people who don't know how witty he was? How colorful he was? He was incredibly sharp too.
[10:10:00]
SOARES: He wrote something like 14 books, gave something like 5000 speeches, Becky. And he's I remember really what he's been saying some of
the comments he made to the public. I remember speaking to journalists, he was he said something that a journalist asked him Becky, how was that
flight, sir?
And he said have you ever been on an aircraft? And the journalist said, yes, well, that was what it was like. He was very, very witty, and I think
people always love that personality, that his sense of fun. But what everyone has said to me today is - people will remember is his sense of
duty and the man that he was standing next to the Queen, always by the side, the patriarch of the family a man who cared so much for his family,
as indeed he did for his country, Becky.
ANDERSON: The Queen's rock as she described him. He is survived by Queen Elizabeth II, his four children and his grandchildren of course. Anna, an
official notice announcing the death of the Duke. Please, behind you on a notice board just earlier on, we don't see the crowds that we might
otherwise have seen, because of course the UK is still under lockdown.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Becky. Although we have seen some people beginning to gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and there are a
few flowers that have been laid. But I can tell you that we've just heard from the Cabinet Office, a spokesperson saying that although this is
extraordinarily difficult for many, that asking people not to gather at Royal residences, of course, due to the pandemic that asking them to
consider you know, paying more tributes online, I believe.
We can also tell you that the College of arms which is the body that sort of oversees the ceremonial aspects of the royal families works. They have
said that there will not be a state funeral, there will be a funeral in Windsor, and there will be no lying in states.
Now this is more or less what we thought would be the case we know that principle it was very much a person who doesn't like a first. Of course,
there will be a funeral later, Mark what was an absolutely extraordinary life and incredible legacy, it's likely to be very different as a result of
the pandemic.
Final sign off on any plans though, will come from Her Majesty the Queen so we will have to wait to find out a little bit more about ultimately the
details. But here at Buckingham Palace a real somber mood I'd say the flag at half mast people are gathering but perhaps given that notice from the
Cabinet Office we'll start to see some of them disperse.
ANDERSON: Yes, Anna Stewart is outside Buckingham Palace. Isa is in Windsor. Well, international reaction pouring in following the death of
Prince Philip. From this region the UAE's is Ambassador to the UK offering deepest condolences to the British Royal Family adding that he will always
be remembered as a good friend to the UAE.
Qatar's Ambassador to the United Kingdom saying he is deeply saddened and that his thoughts are with the British Royal Family and nation during this
difficult times two countries which of course have Royal Families themselves.
Meanwhile, across the United Kingdom, the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon sending her deepest condolences to the people of Scotland
and Her Majesty the Queen the Welsh First Minister reflecting on the dude's legacy, saying he served the Crown with selfless devotion and generosity of
spirit.
Across the Commonwealth world leaders shining a light on his impact worldwide, New Zealand's Prime Minister saying that Prince Philip will be
fondly remembered for the encouragement he gave to so many young New Zealanders through the Duke of Edinburgh's award.
Well, more locally, many Londoners have never known a world without Prince Philip. Here's what some of them had to say about his passing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just thought he was a wonderful man and supported the Queen and she's lucky to have him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a controversial man again and said a few things out a turn, but he's been with the Queen over seven years, longest console
has ever been and conversely, so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Kate Williams is a Royal Commentator and Historian and she joins us now. And he was widely quoted in the past as being very unwilling to
talk about a legacy he said to try and create a memorial for yourself while you're alive is slightly indecent. I'm not trying to create one I'd rather
other people decide what legacy I leave. What legacy does he leave Kate?
KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: You're right. You're right Becky. He always had he didn't want a first I think it's is a striking that the
funeral he would have wanted just as Anna was talking about a quiet private funeral that we will be seeing in Windsor --Windsor Castle, perhaps by the
week next weekend or so that that was what he would have wanted, because he wanted a quiet preparation.
I think that Prince Philip absolutely would never have liked to get involved with his own legacy, but he does leave a great legacy.
[10:15:00]
And without him, there was a great gap in the Royal Family. He was born in 1921. He's seen all of the 20th and 21st century, pretty much. I mean, it's
unimaginable to think he was born five years before women got the vote in the UK, women over 30 of course.
He saw the Second World War, he served in the war. He's one of the few people - he was one of the few people left in this country, he could
remember World War II. And the legacy he leaves is such an important one. And it's one of the roles of consort there was a lot of resent a lot of
kind of resentment against him when he married the Queen.
People thought he was too German. He'd been raised in Germany, though he was Greek and Danish family, they thought he was too German, they mocked
him for not having a home very cruel and not having very much money.
And really, he transformed the role of consort. He made it both one of support to the Queen, she talked about how he was her strength and her
stay, but also one in which he followed so many of his own interests and did so much good conservation.
When Philip was talking about conservation and saving animals and conserving species. It really wasn't part of the public discourse, the WWF.
And it's been so important, and also designs when Britain came out - when the Queen became - onto the throne.
There was a real Britain was still in the post war recession. And Philip, I think when he saw the importance of engineering of design of that to create
commercial business. He was crucial behind those developments, his own interest in art as well. He was a very fine painter.
But I think most of all, for the Royal Family. It's one in which he was very keen on the idea of modernizing, particularly letting the cameras in,
I was instrumental in televising the coronation, and saying the coronation must be televised, because the people, the taxpayers pay for the
coronation, they should allow to see it.
So his recognition that the Royal Family needed to think about how they appear to the people I think comes from a lot of his own difficult life,
his father, thrust fleeing from Greece, the Royal Family under threat in Greece. And he's someone who recognized that importance.
But his great legacy is to the Queen, his devotion to her every day of his life, his devotion to her. And that is a hole that cannot be filled. And
it's a very high bar, for those that have that have to follow.
ANDERSON: Yes, and on the occasion of her golden wedding anniversary in November 1997, the Queen said, and I quote, he has quite simply been my
strength and stay all these years, and I and his whole family and knows in many other countries owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we
shall ever know.
Times have not always been easy for this family. There is controversy surrounding it, at present, not least after the comments by Prince Harry
and Meghan, to Oprah Winfrey, in that interview, that famous interview infamous interview now, early on this year, and indeed the 1990s and the
death of Princess Diana, none of this has been easy for this family. And as you say, this will be a difficult set of shoes to fill at this point.
WILLIAMS: Yes, and there has been many great ups and downs for the Royal Family and Prince Philip has seen them or the great, the terrible, painful
time of Diana's tragic death. The aftermath, in which the Queen's popularity very much sank because people felt that she was in Scotland, she
wasn't here.
And also the Queen, we saw her at the death of her mother; the death of her sister, Prince Philip was supporting her there. He was - we saw you know,
her grief. And that where is that support? Now, of course, she has her children. But Prince Philip has always been there for her, just as you say
the strength and the stay.
And talking of Harry and Meghan, of course, it's very sad because he has four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and the 11th
Harry and Meghan's little girl Jew in July we believe would be the 11th that he will of course, never meets justice, he will never meet his 100th
birthday.
And I think in terms of people who married into the Royal Family, Diana and also Meghan, he understood what it was like to suffer as marrying into the
family because a lot of people were quite cruel about him. People didn't want him to marry Elizabeth, but she was determined she was absolutely
determined.
She met him at 13 she wasn't changing our mind. He was her future husband. And even though he was a great, great, great grandchild of Queen Victoria,
he was seen as unsuitable so I think that he's been there for the Queen's throughout all these ups and downs.
And let's remember in 2012 when there was a German Jubilee, it was very rainy, quite bad weather even though it was summer in Britain, and he
caught an infection and went to the hospital so she did the rest of the Diamond Jubilee engagements, escorted by Prince Charles and Willow.
And it was really the nation I think was really very surprised to see her without him. And I think really people have thought that he would go on
forever that he would always be there for her.
[10:20:00]
And he's obviously marvelous health is fantastic health. And we you know, they've great plans, although they were COVID, but COVID friendly, but
great plans for his 100th birthday to celebrate it. It is a great shock. And he leaves I think, a Queen, who is she - she obviously, you know, has
plans for this. She expected this.
And she will go into mourning we believe for a certain period at least eight days and then perhaps 30 days after that. But then after that she's
going to have to get back to the job of Queen and doing engagements and being there and listening to people then supporting people and it really is
very hard.
ANDERSON: Kate, thank you. We are on special programming for you here viewers wherever you are watching around the world as we remember the life
of Prince Phillip and the service that he gave not only to his nation, but to others around the world more on that after this.
And we'll bring you more of what is our remarkable access in Myanmar where pro democracy protesters tell CNN, they are not afraid of the generals
who've taken control of their country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We are remembering the life of Prince Philip and his voracious love for sports. This photo shows him in his earlier days batting during a
cricket practice, during his service in the Royal Navy in 1947. That was before he got married to then Princess Elizabeth.
Well, the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip was always a very active man with one of his most remarkable achievements, being the Duke of Edinburgh
International Award. For the past six decades the program has worked to build resilience, adaptability and confidence for youngsters reaching kids
in over 130 countries.
And earlier the Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award spoke to CNN. He told us the Jukes program has allowed youngsters to
find their purpose and will long continue to do so. Well, let's bring in Robert Hartman, Author of Queen of the World and other books about the
British Monarchy.
He spent some time with Prince Philip during his research and I'll be completely transparent here I was one of those youngsters who were involved
in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and it was lots of fun and we learnt a lot as youngsters on that award scheme back in the day.
Robert, you have described Prince Philip as an outsider who found a role and battled on uncomplainingly that is you say a royal example to follow
tell us more about the man that you have gotten to know?
HARDMAN: Well, thank you very much Becky. I was lucky enough to interview the Duke on several occasions in fact, not so long ago to spend a whole day
with him down at Windsor where just to give the example of Windsor Castle.
[10:25:00]
HARDMAN: I mean, there is a place where he has had as much of an impact on that famous castle as anyone. He was the man who supervised the restoration
project after that dreadful fire in 1992. And everything that's happened, there is down to him.
You mentioned the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme. I mean, that's, that started out in the 50s. People were a bit suspicious about it, they
thought, well, what's this sort of strange new youth organization that doesn't even have any - doesn't have a hierarchy doesn't have a uniform,
and yet he's stuck with it.
And it's now followed by literally millions of young people around the world; I think it is in 120 different countries. And he was also one of the
pioneers of environmentalism. I mean, back long before it was fashionable to talk about the word green and even become a word for environmentalist.
Back in the early 60s, he was a founding member of the World Wildlife Fund, which then created so many other environmental organizations. He was ahead
of his game on that. I mean, in this country, for example, even campaigns to get trucks to move their exhaust pipes from street level where they were
blasting out into the faces of children, to put them up vertically, so that the air came out at home didn't poison children in the street.
I mean, that his legacy is extraordinary. I heard you play earlier, or quote his words earlier about his legacy. I mean, I in that last big
interview I did with him, I asked him about his legacy. And he did say so that it's indecent to talk about one's legacy.
Others can decide what my legacy is, well, we're going to have to spend a long time deciding what his legacy is, because it is enormous.
ANDERSON: Not least his legacy as the man who ran the restoration after Windsor Castle, burnt down and back in 1992. That is where he spent his
last days with such an important place for him and Queen Elizabeth II.
HARDMAN: Indeed Becky and one of the first things the Queen did actually on becoming Queen back in 1952, when she had the literally the Commonwealth to
worry about, but she appointed the Duke and something called the Ranger of Windsor Great Park, it basically is an honorary position in charge of
everything around Windsor.
And he embraced it and he's made a huge difference all over the castle, the grounds is stay wherever you go, you can see examples of what the Dukes -
the write downs are actually in the last few years he put in a vineyard and you know, produce a sparkling wine so good that the Queen has started
serving it at state backwards.
Who would have thought a few years ago, he'd be doing that. I mean, he's a man who loves innovation, new ideas. He's always in an institution that I
think is often regarded as being very traditional, very high band. He's been the one who said, well, let's try this.
He was the first member of the Royal Family to give a TV interview. He was the driving force behind the first the early royal documentaries, including
the memorable the very first one in color television in 1969.
He was the first member of the Royal Family in places like the Soviet Union or Antarctica, and even installed some of the very first solar panels in
Britain and European back in the 60s. And I think if you look through your archive, you might even find shots of him driving around London in a London
taxi.
He thought that driving around in big limousines was very bad for the environment when in an urban space. So he bought himself a taxi and then
converted it to gas, liquid petroleum gas. I mean, you know, he loved he loved science. He loved widgets. And one of the longest serving engineering
prizes in Europe is the Prince Philip prize for engineering.
I mean, you know, in so many ways, there's this rather, you know, unassuming man actually quite shy. He never liked to fast its why, you
know, he wanted a low key. He never liked celebrating his birthday, his 100th birthday he wasn't interested in, in marketing it really.
It was he always wanted to focus the attention on his organizations on other people. He was always two steps behind the Queen, never two steps in
front.
ANDERSON: How will he be remembered around the world briefly?
HARDMAN: Well, briefly, he was patron of over 800 organizations and a lot of them were international organizations because the Queen is - Queen not
just the UK but a 15 other countries so he was a big presence there. Often when she was a young mum and couldn't get out and get away and a lot of
these tours she would ask the Queen asked - the Queen would ask the dude to go into her place so for example, the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne,
Australia.
She was supposed to open those she couldn't go so she sent the dude everyone - of that will remember him.
ANDERSON: Sure.
[10:30:00]
HARDMAN: You know world leader, even when he walked in with the Queen they wanted to meet him because in his own right, this extraordinary man had had
a lot to say was - was someone who, you know, grew up, served in one of the lowest public figures on the world stage to serve in uniform in the second
world war.
ANDERSON: Robert Hardman it's been a pleasure talking to you, as you reflect on what has been such a storied life of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Thank you.
Well, a storied life indeed, here's a unique aspect of it. You're perhaps not aware of a tribe in the Pacific Island Nation of Vanuatu worshiped
Philip, like a deity. The story dates back decades to when the Prince visited the nation's capital the tribe tied that visit to an ancient legend
about a warrior who would one day return with a rich and powerful wife.
They viewed Philip as a physical manifestation of that warrior and considered him sacred. There you go, amazing time for a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, he is remembered as the man who stood by her side every day of her reign, a picture of Britain's Prince Philip here with his wife the
future Queen Elizabeth II. Well, they were on their honeymoon more than 70 years ago.
People around the world are mourning the loss of Prince Philip who passed away peacefully earlier today at the age of 99. Bars Britain of Queen
Elizabeth was a leading figure in the British Royal Family for more than seven decades. Buckingham Palace announced his death at Windsor Castle this
morning.
The Prince suffered health problems recently earlier this year he spent several weeks in hospital and was only discharged last month. The Duke of
Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary last fall making him the longest serving consort to a British Monarch.
Well, another of Prince Philip's great loves was Scotland. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's shared her condolences on Twitter saying and I quote, I
am 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 her family.
Let's bring in Philip Black who is in Scotland. And the Queen and Prince Philip couldn't be happier than when they were on their estate in Balmorals
in Scotland. This country means a huge amount to the Royal Family, not least, to Prince Philip himself.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed that's right, Becky. I mean the title The Duke of Edinburgh suggests an association doesn't it? But his
relationship was so much more than that. It was deep, it was long. It was affectionate and really personal.
He spent much of his schooling years in Scotland went to a school here loved it so much sent his sons to the same school. It was his experiences
at that school that then led him to launch the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Those Youth Achievement Awards which I know you've been talking about which
have shaped and influenced the lives of so many hundreds of thousands of people not just in Scotland, the UK but internationally as well.
[10:35:00]
BLACK: And then there was the time, so much time spent at Balmorals the castle, the estate in Aberdeenshire. It's where the Duke had - Queen spent
part of their honeymoon and indeed where they spent so much of the summer months to usually the late summer, early autumn.
They truly loved the place, its dramatic landscape, the lifestyle, and its people. And Scotland, by its very nature, geographically is wild and
sparsely populated. And yet, despite that, they really made an effort to get around and to see people and to experience and form relationships with
the people that lived here.
And that, that vastness that isolation is perhaps nowhere felt more keenly than where I am on the island of Shetland, about 100 miles north of the
Scottish mainland and yet even hear people talk about the Duke and the Queen and their regular if not frequent visits to this island.
Remember, those visits as key moments in the islands history, often their childhoods and their lives. And so here as with matter of Scotland, people
here are remembering the Duke of Edinburgh today, and marking his passing with some sadness.
As indeed as you've touched on across the Scottish political spectrum, people today have released statements honoring and then that they describe
as a straight talking, dutiful, public servant. And more than that as a sign of respect to the Duke and his passing the governing party here the
Scottish National Party has announced it's going to suspend campaigning for the upcoming Scottish parliamentary elections, Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, I think it is safe to say that it's a day like you have up there today. Cold, pretty windy, pretty unpleasant it looks. But it's the
sort of day that Prince Philip would have absolutely loved up in Scotland. Do look after you stay safe. And we'll let you go and get warm. Thank you.
There you go Phil Black up in the wilds of the wonderful Shetland Islands.
Just ahead more on our other big story, the crisis in Myanmar as the UN hears from our state officials, we are on the ground with extraordinary
access that is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Our top story this hour, Britain and the world in mourning today after the death of Prince Phillip husband of Queen Elizabeth and the
longest serving royal concert in British history. Buckingham Palace says the Duke of Edinburgh died peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. He
was 99. We'll have more on his legacy later this hour.
Well, turning to our other big news today out there moment the UN Security Council is hearing about the crisis in Myanmar from those who have been
ousted from the government's, the country's government.
[10:40:00]
ANDERSON: Even though the meeting is described as unofficial. The Security Council says it's a chance to look at the wider risks to peace from
February's coup and the ongoing deadly crackdown there.
So far at the UN there has been a lot of condemnation, but no real action no sanctions the call to action is coming from the voices on the ground in
Myanmar, they are telling CNN they are not afraid. The network granted remarkable access, the first Western TV network inside the country since
the military ceased power on February the 1st.
Well, our cameras are seeing plenty of courage on the ground from pro democracy protesters and activists. A monitoring group says at least 600
civilians have been killed including dozens of children. The people of Myanmar tasted freedom for only a few years but their love of democracy
means they will put everything on the line to fight for it even defying the junta.
Well, CNN's Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward has just returned from Myanmar, where she and her team had exclusive access to the
fallout from the coup and the crackdown. They were also on that military escort. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): By day, the junta continues its brutal crackdown, killing pro democracy protesters
who refuse to submit to military rule. At night, the raids begin as soldiers round up activists and drag away the dead. Their body is evidence
of the military shoot to kill tactics.
Two months after overthrowing Myanmar's democratically elected government in a coup. The junta has been unapologetic in its ruthlessness and silent
in the face of international outrage. Fearless local journalists and activists have risked everything to show the world what is happening while
outside access to the country has been blocked.
But now the military has granted CNN the first access to visit Myanmar and the moment we arrive our movements are tightly controlled. Gives you a
sense of the intense level of security with us 123 another three over there's six trucks full of soldiers accompanying our every move.
At township offices across Yangon alleged victims of the protest movement dutifully await us. They tell us they have been beaten and threatened and
humiliated by the violators of pejorative term the military uses for the pro democracy protesters.
In North - Township the local administrator complains that the demonstrators were noisy and broke the law by gathering in groups of more
than five.
WARD (on camera): Are you seriously comparing these infractions to more than 500 people being killed among them children? Are you saying that these
are equal?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our minders are perturbed by the question. And it goes on answered.
WARD (voice over): They take us to a shopping center, one of two attacked by arsonists overnight. Like many businesses in Myanmar they are partially
owned by the military. The strong implication from our minders is that the protesters are to blame.
It's a similar story at several burned out factories. This is the third factory that the military wanted to show us. They say it is clear proof
that the protesters are violent that they have been setting fire to businesses like this, but the protesters say they had nothing to do with it
at all.
And the factory owners who we've spoken to say they simply don't know who's responsible? Sandra's Chinese owned garment factory was completely
destroyed. She asked we not show her face.
WARD (on camera): Do you have any sense of what you will do now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Working for the government gives me some sense having?
WARD (on camera): Who is the government right now in Myanmar? Sorry, is that a hard question?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know.
WARD (voice over): Every moment of our visit is carefully choreographed. When protesters begin posting about our movements on social media, the
military cuts off Wi-Fi across the country. Still from the window of our convoy we catch glimpses of reality.
Some people from the balcony just flashed three fingers at me. That's the Hunger Games salute, which has become emblematic of this uprising. I'm
speaking very quietly because I don't want our minders to know what they just did, because honestly, it could be a very dangerous situation for
them.
[10:45:00]
WARD (voice over): We pass a small protest, rejecting Myanmar's return to more than half a century of repressive military rule. Their banner calls
for a spring revolution. Our minders won't let us stop. Finally, after days of pushing, we are allowed to visit a public space an open market.
We avoid approaching anyone mindful of the fact that we are surrounded by security forces. But within minutes one brave man flashes the three finger
salute.
WARD (on camera): I saw that you made a sign. Tell me what you mean by making that sign?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well.
WARD (on camera): We don't - you just stand back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want the justice.
WARD (on camera): You want justice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Justice, yes.
WARD (voice over): Moments later, another man approaches.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not good.
WARD (on camera): That's good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't have a lot of time. But every day, every day, just like--
WARD (voice over): As word of our presence spreads, we hear an unmistakable sound. Banging pots and pans is a tradition to get rid of evil spirits. But
it has become the signature sound of resistance. This young teacher says she ran to talk to us when she heard the noise.
WARD (on camera): You want democracy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want democracy and we don't want them to treat.
WARD (on camera): You know we're surrounded by a military like this guy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't, I'm not afraid to at all if we are afraid to we people around to when not hit the bands and the pin.
WARD (voice over): Like many young people, she sees her future being ripped away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't want to go back to the Dark Age. We lost our voice and we had - we had democracy only for 10 years because we don't have
weapons. We don't have guns just only we have voice.
WARD (voice over): But even words can be punished here. Not wanting the situation to escalate. We decide to leave the market as people honk their
horns in support of the protest movement. The junta has grossly underestimated the determination of its people and the growing hatred for
the military. In the capital - we finally have the opportunity to confront Myanmar senior military leadership.
MAJ. GEN. ZAW MIN TUN, MYANMAR MILITARY SPOKESPERSON: I will tell you the reason why we have to crack down. The protests were peaceful from February
1st to the 8th. The reason for the crackdown was because they block civil servants. The security forces are giving mornings. Firstly, shouting to
break the crowds and then shooting in the air. And the crowds are throwing stones and using slingshots.
WARD (on camera): Are you seriously comparing stones and slingshots to assault rifles? The military is using weapons against its own people that
really only belong on the battlefield.
MIN TUN: Because the main thing is they are not only using stones and slingshots. We have evidence they use gasoline and Molotov cocktails, you
have to add those two. For the security forces they use crackdown weapons for riots. There will be deaths when they are cracking down the riots. But
we are not shooting without discipline with the rifles we use for the frontlines.
WARD (on camera): So this is CCTV footage of 17 year old - going past a police convoy. You can see the police shoot him on the spot. His autopsy
later said that he suffered brain injury as a result of a cycling accident, which I think we can all see that's not a cycling accident. How do you
explain this?
MIN TUN: If that kind of thing has occurred we will have investigations for it. We will investigate it if it's true or not. There may be some videos
which look suspicious but for our forces we don't have any intention to shoot at innocent people.
WARD (on camera): So 14 year old - who was killed by your forces. What do you say to his mother? You say that he was a violent protester or what
would you say to the father of 13 year old - also shot dead by your forces?
MIN TUN: We have heard about the deaths of the children too. There is no reason we will shoot children. This is only the terrorists that are trying
to make us look bad.
WARD (voice over): But the lies are paper thin. According to the UN as of March 31, at least 44 children had been killed. Back in Yangon our minders
take us to another market in a military area, keen to show they have popular support, but the ploy backfires.
[10:50:00]
WARD (on camera): I understand. Man just told me we want democracy. As he walked past us he was too scared to stop and talk.
WARD (voice over): Others are bolder. These people are not activists. They are ordinary citizens. And they live in fear of the military. You have
goose bumps. You would like shivering.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are not human.
WARD (on camera): They're not human.
WARD (voice over): They are desperate for the outside world to know their pain. One girl approaches us shaking.
WARD (on camera): I feel like you're very nervous. Are you OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. We're not six anymore. Even the light here, shoulders, shoulders and shoots the two arms.
WARD (on camera): I don't want you to get in trouble. I don't want you to get arrested. OK,
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
WARD (on camera): All right.
WARD (voice over): She knows her bravery will certainly be punished. But this is a resistance movement built on small acts of great courage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Clarissa Ward reporting there. We'll get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. In talks to bring
Iran and the U.S. back to the 2015 nuclear deal will continue next week. EU officials meeting in Vienna say that they are making progress.
They're trying to restore the core of the deal restricting Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of U.S. and other sanctions but
Tehran and Washington disagree over which sanctions must be lifted.
The volcano we've been keeping an eye on in the Caribbean has erupted it's threatening the lives of thousands of people in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. They are expecting plumes of ash up to six kilometers high.
Evacuation orders are in place across the Island of St. Vincent and cruise ships have been sent to pick up the 7000 people who have been told to leave
their homes. Well, up next more coverage of our top story, the passing of the UK's Prince Philip.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, this is Buckingham Palace and these are people paying their respects to Prince Philip the Queen's husband who passed away earlier today
at Windsor Castle at the age of 99. People have in the UK been asked not to bring flowers and not to attend the Palace because of COVID protocols.
But it's not stopping some of those who want to pay their respects. And we are getting new details on the funeral plans. Prince Philip will not have a
state funeral instead his funeral will take place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Those were his wishes.
And of course there will be COVID restrictions and that means the public will not be allowed to attend. Well, the Royal couple's ties to Northern
Ireland date back to the 1940s and they paid repeated visits over the decades. This image from 1961 Salma Abdelaziz is in Belgium Fast for us
this hour, what's been the response there?
[10:55:00]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Hello Becky. I'm in front of Belfast City Hall actually and the flag here is flying at half math since that news
broke. And for the last hour, I've been speaking to people to try and understand how they feel about this?
And just to set this up, just to remind our viewers, for the last week, this city has seen terrible violence clashes playing out in the streets
between Protestants and Catholics loyalists and nationalists that have caused dozens of police to be injured.
So at a time like this, to lose someone like Prince Philip, of course, has a much divided reaction. I spoke to one older man who literally started
crying when I said to him, what does it mean for Prince Philip to die? And he said that he had a calming factor, he was important. He stood in
represented something to him and to his family.
But for others, they feel like this has nothing to do with them. And especially if you're a young person, it might not be relevant to you today,
Becky.
ANDERSON: Salma, thank you. Before we leave you this evening, we want to pay one final tribute to Britain's Prince Philip, who passed away this
morning at 99 years old, just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip married in 1947. And for seven decades, he was a constant figure at her side. From the joyous moments of births and
weddings to the troubled times of controversy and sorrow, the two were rarely seen apart.
The Duke of Edinburgh led a remarkable life in his own right from serving in the Navy to making more than 22,000 public appearances all his own. He
also served as the patron of maybe 800 organizations and charities.
Throughout his 17 years of service to the Crown the Duke often made headlines and not always for the right reasons. But as the patriarch of the
British Monarchy, he surely meant so much too so many, a father of four, grandfather of eight and great grandfather to 10 with another one on the
way, a much loved Prince indeed.
We've been sharing international tributes another touching one coming in from the President of Greece, the young Prince Philip saluting seemingly
fitting for a man remembered for his selfless service to the Crown. Prince Philip has died away at the age of 99. CNN will continue our special
coverage with my colleague Julia Chatterley ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
