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First Move with Julia Chatterley
Britain's Prince Philip Dies at the Age of 99. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired April 09, 2021 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:18]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR, FIRST MOVE: I'm Julia Chatterley. You're watching CNN's special coverage following the sad news of the death
of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
In a statement at Buckingham Palace said the Queen's husband passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle. He was 99 years old.
Above the palace, the Union Flag is now flying at half-mast. Married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years, the Duke was the longest serving consort of a
reigning British monarch.
The Prince had, as you well know, suffered health problems recently. Earlier this year, he spent several weeks in a hospital and was discharged
only last month.
British 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)
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)
CHATTERLEY: Kate Williams is CNN Royal historian and lecturer at the University of London. Kate, great to have you with us. Just help our
viewers understand what a pivotal role Prince Philip played not only in terms of the monarchy, supported the Queen, but also as the patriarch, I
think of the Royal Family.
KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL HISTORIAN: Prince Philip was the patriarchy, was the stay, and it is very hard, I think for us to imagine the Royal Family
without him. He has been simply there all the time. He's always been there supporting the Queen.
She said that he's not a man for compliments, but he has always been her strength and her stay.
She's been in love with -- she fell in love with him when she was 13, when he was a top ranking naval cadet at the Dartmouth Naval College on the
South Coast of England and he served so bravely in the war, came back from the war, and they married in 1947, a wartime wedding, which was a huge
moment for the country.
And then of course, they expected to have many years together as a young couple. But her father died five years later in 1952. Very young,
unexpected, and she became Queen and he became the consort. He is the longest serving consort in British history. She is the longest reigning
monarch, of course, in British history and he was always there supporting her, supporting the family.
And it's incredible, really, to think that he only retired in 2017, just a few years ago. And up until then, he was supporting all of his charities.
Over -- nearly 800 charities, he did 22,000, engagements, 5,000 speeches.
He was a man of great energy. He was fascinated by science. He was fascinated by innovation, and really did a lot for British science in the
post war world when it was just really strengthening in a commercial activity, but also, I think, gave so much to the Royal Family.
He came from a world -- his life was very insecure before he married the Queen. His family has had to flee Greece where they were part of the Greek
Royal Family because they were deposed. And he always, I think saw that and said that the Royal Family was there at the goodwill of the people and it
was something that had to be thought about and you could not take it for granted.
So, he was very devoted to both the monarchy and to the Queen. And it is a great loss to the Royal Family that he is no longer with us.
CHATTERLEY: We'll talk more in the show about the Royal love story because I think this is one of the overriding themes that we think about when we
think about Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip as well.
But to your point as well, the duty the 65 years of service. He once referred to himself as the world's greatest plaque unveiler, and I think
what we can't ignore here, too, is the sense of humor that he brought to the Royal Family at incredibly difficult moments, too, and that also a
piece of the strength, I think that he provided to the Queen.
WILLIAMS: There's a lot of strength and he was the one who broke it to the Queen, they were -- in 1952 -- on a world tour in Kenya, they were actually
over a watering hole, there was a tree house over the watering hole and he was the one who had to break it to her, the rest of the world already knew,
but she did not because the Buckingham Palace thought she had been given the notice, she hadn't.
He had to break it to her that everything was going to change and she was now going to be Queen, and he always has been there for her. And it wasn't
easy, I think both for a man of his determination alpha male, as you might say, a man who has had this glittering naval career. He was one of the
first ever first lieutenants at the age of 21. He was a top naval cadet and when you hear about people who fought with him during World War II and the
invention, that way he saved so many lives. It's very striking to hear about how much he was respected and how, as one man who served under him
said he always came up with something.
[09:05:09]
WILLIAMS: He always had an answer to save us.
And then of course, in 1952, when the Queen becomes Queen, he has to step back and has to become a consort and has to always support her. And he did
this with great effort.
And he has this great sense of humor, and sometimes, it is unavoidable to say, when he was -- he went into gaffes and he would make comments that
could not be seen as offensive -- not offensive talking to people, aboriginal people, he said, do not throw spears anymore and, you know, some
offensive comments in the past.
But Prince Philip is someone who touched so many lives; 22,000 engagements, so many people met him, so many people -- you know, he talked to so many
people and some people I've met who talked to him, with the genuine interest he took in their lives and asked them really interesting
questions. And he is someone who having given up as charities in 2017, having stepped back, having given up his military engagements.
He is someone who leaves a great hole in the in the Royal Family and in British life, and I think it will be hard for us to see the Queen on her
own. We got used to it since his retirement, but it will be hard for us seeing the Queen unaccompanied. Prince Philip, not being there with her
because she has been in love with him since she was 13.
There's been long life, and now, she is a Queen on her own.
CHATTERLEY: How does she handle this, Kate? Because it's -- the thing that I think we've all not wanted to consider over the past few weeks when we
knew he was unwell, she said in and has said at their 50th wedding anniversary celebrations, "My strength and my stay." But obviously, duty
has always come first and you get the sense that she, above all, knows that in the handling of some of the most difficult periods throughout their
history.
What now for the Queen?
WILLIAMS: It's very hard for her and it will be very hard for her. They have been a devoted couple, and they've been particularly close, actually,
during the COVID period because they were bubbled together. They had their individual bubble spend Christmas together. The Queen always has a big
Christmas normally, but this wasn't -- couldn't be the case anymore because in Britain, our restrictions were -- they were very restrictive before
Christmas. It was only family only, the people you lived with.
So the Queen and Prince Philip have grown incredibly, even closer over the past year and the suffering of COVID has brought them together. And it is
going to be very hard for her, and it is -- you know many people all over the world have lost people, thousands of people in the U.S., and in the
U.K., and I think one of the hardest things that people have found, which will be the same for the Queen, is that you can't call on your relatives
for support because there are these restrictions. You can't see as many people as you might want. It's very difficult to mix inside.
So the Queen will be relying on Charles, on Camilla, on William, on Kate, on her children on Andrew and Sophie Wessex in particular.
She is at Windsor Castle. She is mourning privately, and it really is so hard for her because she can't show grief, we will put it, because you know
when her father died, she had to get on with the job of Queen straight away.
You know, and we will expect to have a -- although it would be a big funeral, we'll expect to see a small funeral at some point and the Queen
will be there and for her to lose her husband that she's had with her for so long, and I think all of us thought that the Duke even though he was
very old, he was so fit and healthy that he would really go on for such -- you know, go on forever.
And it is obviously a great shock to her and she won't do any engagements for the next few days. But eventually she will have to get back into doing
engagements and it will be very, very hard for her, you know, the Duke, he has gone.
CHATTERLEY: I think for any British citizen, but for the Commonwealth and those around the world watching this, clearly, if you're younger than 75,
or you're late 70s, you don't know what the Royal Family looks like without Prince Philip and without his presence, as you mentioned earlier.
What about for the nation at this moment? It has been, and will continue to be, I think, a relatively challenging time for the monarchy, too. What
about the perception? Particularly in light, I think of what we've seen with the Sussexes as well.
How do you think the loss of Prince Philip it will alter that relationship and the relationships around the Queen, which are clearly so pivotal at
this moment now as she mourns?
WILLIAMS: They are very pivotal. And yes, we're very sad that the Duke has died just a few months short of his 100th birthday. There were celebrations
planned, muted because of COVID, but celebrations were planned.
And also of course talking with Harry and Meghan, his 11th great grandchild was due to be born. Harry and Meghan's little girl we believe due in July,
and Prince Philip went before -- he died before he could meet that 11th great grandchild.
And the Royal Family, I think, are really going to circle around the Queen now. It is about Charles. It is about the Duchess of Cornwall, about
Camilla. It is about William and Kate and it is really about focusing on the Queen now because, you know she is so strong. She is a woman of
incredible strength, has been through so much, but losing her husband, I think was so hard for her.
[09:10:12]
WILLIAMS: In 2012, when the Duke had an infection, there was -- during the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, it was rather rainy, if we all remember on the
Jubilee Pageant down the Thames and the Duke caught an infection and had to go into hospital. So the Queen had to do some engagements without him and
Prince Charles escorted her.
And I think, it was quite hard for the nation to see the Queen escorted not by her husband and that will be the future. We will expect to see the Queen
escorted by Prince Charles and by Prince William, and they will be supporting him.
And I think what we'll also see is a moving of -- moving really, talking about the future or talking about the future of Charles as a monarch, as
Williams as a monarch. The Queen will never abdicate. She has made that very clear. She will never abdicate. But she will, I think give more and
more engagements over to Charles, over to William. And it is a moment I think of great reckoning.
Most of all, I think that the Duke is one of the last people in this country who remembers and who served in World War II. And the Queen also
served in World War II. And we lose -- we lost so many veterans, and that the Duke is one of the last people who truly served and gave so much and
sacrificed for people's freedom and that generation I think, are now truly gone.
CHATTERLEY: We'll talk more about his legacy and reinforcing the strength I think and the changes that he brought for the good.
Kate, great to talk to you. Thank you for that. Kate Williams, CNN Royal historian there.
Now, as we mentioned earlier, Queen Elizabeth once called Prince Philip his strength and stay. The Duke of Edinburgh offering his steadfast support and
unwavering love to the Queen through seven decades of joy and heartbreak.
Max Foster takes a look back at the life of Prince Philip.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They were married for more than seven decades, but had been destined for each other since
childhood according to one of Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids.
MARGARET RHODES, COUSIN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH: I think she fell in love when she was 13. I mean, god, he was good looking. He was a Viking god.
He never looked at anybody else ever, and I think he really 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 at the Queen's side.
He gave a rare insight into life behind palace walls when celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
PRINCE PHILIP, 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 (voice over): If this companionship came at a professional cost, it was one Prince Philip was prepared to pay.
RHODES: Just to have been there all the time behind her and ready to sacrifice his life, he did it, too, sacrificed his life because 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 (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 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 as a phrase that 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 (voice over): 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 Gabriela Windsor's wedding in May 2019.
[09:15:03]
FOSTER (voice over): Prince Philip had been patron or president of some 800 charities including, 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, PRICE PHILIP'S COUSIN: I think pivotal -- pivotal point because he was the head of the family he was -- it was his
responsibility as a father to be that and he does that extremely well.
FOSTER (on camera): Would have been difficult for him always in public to be taking a backseat to his wife?
CONSTANTINE II: 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, then you carry it out beautifully.
FOSTER (voice over): 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 (voice over): Prince Philip, serviceman, campaigner, great grandfather, and a beloved husband.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHATTERLEY: Anna Stewart joins us now live from Buckingham Palace and now, a nation in mourning today.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Julia. It's been a little over two hours, but as you can see, you're already starting to get a few people
gathering outside the gates of Buckingham Palace to pay their respects.
You can see the flag is now at half-mast, and the conversation is the legacy of Prince Philip and what an extraordinary legacy it is.
Of course, he is going to be best remembered for being married to the Queen for 73 years, and who can forget when she said on the golden wedding
anniversary in 1997, "He has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years," performing tens of thousands of engagements with her, always
two steps behind and also by himself in solo engagements, over 22,000 solo engagements, Julia over 65 years' worth of public duty.
He was the patron of over 600 charitable organizations. You can just think of all the people around the U.K., in the Commonwealth, who have met him,
who have spoken to him are probably going through their assets right now trying to find a photo of that moment.
This is a man much loved by the nation and he once described himself as the world's greatest plaque unveiler. This is a man who had a great passion for
life and sense of humor, and he's going to be sorely missed.
CHATTERLEY: And I think we were just showing pictures there of people already laying flowers and a union jack flag there as well. Sorely missed
is right.
Anna, what can we expect as you are awaiting outside Buckingham Palace there in the coming hours?
STEWART: Well, of course I think in the coming hours, we're going to get more expressions of condolences right around the world, people wanting to
tell us what they felt about Prince Philip, what they remember of his legacy.
And then of course, in the coming days, what happens next? When will we have the funeral? It is expected to be in Windsor. But all of those plans,
of course, are up in the air and given we're in a pandemic, all the plans have had to change significantly over the last year.
Final sign off, of course on any sort of plan will be by Her Majesty, the Queen who is of course, in mourning. So we'll wait for news on that.
I think what we'll see though, is a funeral with much love and celebration for a man with a fantastic military career, public service as the longest
serving consort in British history. A man who loved polo, carriage driving, a man who was well-known right around the Commonwealth.
But in the coming days, we should have more a better idea of those plans. I wouldn't expect to see, you know, a carriage procession or anything that
will draw too many crowds, though, of course, given the pandemic rages on - - Julia.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, complications, of course due to the pandemic. You were mentioning some of his attributes there, Anna, as well. I believe he was
the first member of the Royal Family ever to fly out of Buckingham Palace - - the garden in a helicopter.
It gives you a sense of who this man who was.
STEWART: It really does, and he has had the most extraordinary life, Julia, and it's something that we will have to celebrate over the coming
days.
Born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, exiled to Paris, educated here in the U.K. He joined the Navy just before World War II broke out. He saw
active service during World War II and the incredible love story of how he met the Queen and the romance that blossomed there.
And his great sense of humor, I think is something that we will all remember, fantastic comments made, and as you said a real passion for polo,
carriage driving, flying -- he earned his RAF wings shortly after his military service.
[09:20:10]
STEWART: An extraordinary character to remember.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, a day of great mourning for a huge loss, but also, as you said, a celebration for a life well lived.
Anna Stewart, thank you for that.
Stay with us, please for more on our special coverage in tribute to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:23:34]
CHATTERLEY: People around the world mourning the loss of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The husband of Queen Elizabeth has died at the age
of 99. He spent a month in a hospital earlier this year before being released last month to return to Windsor Castle.
The international community paying tribute to Prince Philip in the wake of his death. The Australian Prime Minister said, the Duke, quote, " ...
embodied a generation that we will never see again," and praised his service to the Commonwealth.
The Irish Prime Minister said he was, quote, "Saddened to hear of the Duke's death. Adding our thoughts and prayers are with Queen Elizabeth and
the people of the United Kingdom at this time."
Former U.S. President George W. Bush hailed Prince Philip for representing Britain with dignity.
The European Commission, France, India and Germany have all conveyed sympathies to the Queen and to the British people.
Richard Quest joins us now.
Richard, more than seven decades married to the Queen as consort, more than six decades of services, there is not one nation perhaps in the world that
he hasn't touched, visited or talked to at some point, and it is one heck of a legacy he leaves behind.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS: Yes, and let's remember that for many of those countries, the Queen remains head of state
or head of Commonwealth.
So if you take Australia for example, where the Republican movement has made ground over recent years, but at the last referendum, the decision was
taken to stay as a monarchy for the time being and the general feeling has been in places like Australia, possibly New Zealand, that certainly as long
as the Queen and Prince Philip were around that they would remain -- they would remain as Head of State.
[09:25:13]
QUEST: The Duke of Edinburgh, famously made many gaffes on his trips to some of the Caribbean Islands, to the Far East, and to India and the like,
but he was always exceptionally well welcomed when he went there.
He was, in a sense, the colorful part of this duo. The Queen would come with all the pomp and ceremony, but it was the Duke that would come and
blow the air out of the balloon, and he was the one who would be the normal one, if you like, which is interesting, because he was very Royal, as
you've been discussing with Max and the others.
He was born to royalty, or be somewhat in distressed circumstances. He was Royal by birth, and he had been around Royalty, all his life. But he was
the one famously, Julia, during the 1980s said in Britain to those who were unemployed in the northeast, he said, get on your bike to go and find a
job.
Now, that did not go down extremely well. But the Duke of Edinburgh was very much one of those people, who along with Norman Tebbit at the time,
who was then an Industry Secretary, they were all part of this down to earthiness that people rallied to, because they felt they could identify
with and it was his support of the Queen throughout, I think that shone.
CHATTERLEY: Royal, but real, I think, Richard.
QUEST: Yes.
CHATTERLEY: And forgiven --
QUEST: Yes, beautifully put, beautifully put. Royal but real, and people were just waiting, people were waiting for that brusqueness.
He didn't like pomp and ceremony. He didn't like all that went with it.
He was a man who just wanted to get on because as a naval officer, a very successful naval officer, he believed in the importance of the duty and the
operation.
So when he was sent off to do something, he went to do it, such as, Julia, modernizing Buckingham Palace.
CHATTERLEY: I was keen to mention that, too. The Countess of Burma, Philip's cousin said at the beginning of the relationship that he was not
someone that was going to toe the line, that there was suspicion because he had very progressive views. The quote was, "I think they were rather
worried that too much fresh air was going to be let in." And I think it's that fresh air that was such a pivotal part of reshaping the modern
monarchy for an incredibly young Queen and that legacy, and that approach, I think, to what being a Royal is, has been pivotal over the last seven
decades.
QUEST: Anyone who has seen "The Crown" --
CHATTERLEY: Right.
QUEST: There's a -- there's a lot of truth in that tension and the relationship that existed between Philip, the Queen, and the establishment
once he came on board.
You see here you have the contradiction in terms of what we're talking about. He is absolutely Royal to the core, so he knows his role. There is
no question with Philip that he knows he is four paces, five paces behind the Queen. But she has already given some precedents and she has already
made various letters, patterns that establish his authority, and his position in regard to the Royal household.
And now he wants to play that role, and so you do get Prince Philip being first when it comes to the family. If you look at the schools that the
children went to, if you look at their upbringing, it was Philip who set the tone and set the direction.
And yet at the same time, this call to modernize the monarchy, much of the monarchy, Julia that you and I grew up with, came about because of the
changes that Prince Philip made.
CHATTERLEY: Her strength and stay. We know that he's been ill, for a relatively long period of months, Richard. How pivotal do you think he was
still to the decisions as the patriarch of the family, given recent events? And what do you think happens now as the Queen embarks on the future
without him?
QUEST: I think the last part is probably the most crucial of that, Julia. We don't know. I mean, the Queen has enormous strengths, but I remember
watching the Queen.
I was covering both the funeral of her sister, Princess Margaret, and then just a few weeks later, that of her mother, the Queen Mother. On both
occasions, it was the presence of Philip that gave her the strength to carry on.
Now that that stay, that strength that rock if you like, has gone and I think we're going to see a very different monarch.
[09:30:09]
QUEST: I think we could -- we will see a monarch in grief. We may not see that much of it to be frank, because when we saw her mother's funeral,
there were moments of great distress and grief that we saw during that, but this will be on a different league. This will be for Her Majesty.
And how they now transition, more responsibility to Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and thereby to the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, that is going to be very telling and very significant.
I'm not for a second saying that the reign of Elizabeth II is over, but I'm saying it does transition into a new and as yet unknown form now that there
is the loss of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
CHATTERLEY: A new era. Richard Quest, thank you so much for that.
QUEST: Thank you.
CHATTERLEY: We're going to take a short break here, but stay with CNN. More tributes and recollections of the life of Prince Philip.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to CNN and reminding you of today's sad news from London, Prince Philip has died just two months short of his 100th birthday.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the Queen's beloved husband passed away this morning at Windsor Castle. The Duke of Edinburgh suffered health
problems earlier this year, and spent several weeks in hospital. He also underwent heart surgery in February.
Over the last seven decades, the Prince had been a constant companion to Queen Elizabeth, but stepped back from public Royal duties in 2017.
With 73 years of marriage, he is the longest serving consort to a British monarch.
[09:35:06]
CHATTERLEY: Isa Soares joins us now from Windsor. Isa, and of course, up until this morning, the Queen, Prince Philip were there in quarantine, and
now of course the Queen alone.
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Queen alone behind in those walls with missing, no doubt, and mourning the man who has been by her side for 73
years, Julia, a man who was her adviser, who, outside the Palace walls, he was always a couple of feet behind her playing almost second fiddle.
But once they were inside those walls, he was her husband, and he was the wings beneath her wings. You know, it was -- I no doubt that Queen is
morning today.
I came from outside Windsor Palace. I managed to speak to several people to get a real sense of the mood, and it is -- there is a somber silence
outside Windsor Palace. It is understandable.
So many people I spoke to, different generations, may I add as well. You know, they said that they were surprised -- shocked to hear of his passing,
but not surprised, because if you remember three weeks ago, we saw those frail images of the Duke of Edinburgh leaving the hospital where he'd been
for several weeks, looking so frail.
And I remember, Julia, speaking to my husband and saying to my husband, this may be the last time we see the Duke of Edinburgh. But many people who
spoke to me today said he was more than anything, the man besides the Queen, he was her closest adviser. And I think that's what so many people
admired about him.
The other thing, and you would know this, is the fact that he had a very wicked sense of humor. He was incredibly colorful. One lady said to me, I
will always remember how much he just spoke his mind. And I think, us, as the press perhaps he always gave us the time. Of course, he may not have
liked us all the time, but it is clear that he was a colorful figure.
But let's not forget, he was -- he led an extraordinary rich life, Julia, and he is a naval officer, I think you've probably heard so much already
about his legacy and the man he was. He was born in a dining room table on the Island of Corfu in 1921, eighteen months after being born, he was in
exile in England, in Scotland, in France, a very troubled childhood.
His father was not really present in his life. And so, here we have a man who, coming from Royalty, gave all that up, took a step back, and still
carried out his Royal duties.
And the Queen's speaking at the 50th wedding anniversary, said he has been my strength and my stay. And I think that says so much about the Duke of
Edinburgh.
And I think today, and in the weeks ahead, we'll be talking about the man and his legacy and how dutiful his services has been to the country --
Julia.
CHATTERLEY: I think part of that duty and that service and the legacy and the support that he gave to the Queen is why no matter what he said, even
if it were inappropriate, and perhaps wouldn't be acceptable in younger members of the Royal Family, he was sort of loved for it, and Isa, your
point about speaking to even young people there.
This is a generation of the Royal Family that whatever you think of the younger generations, the Queen is beloved, Prince Philip is beloved.
SOARES: Very much so, I don't know how much of that has come from watching "The Crown." I know you and Richard were having this conversation, how much
they were informed by that.
The young people I spoke to said that, you know, he was clearly -- loved the Queen dearly. That was very obvious. Some of them said they didn't like
him as much because of what happened to Diana, and that's still -- that's still playing a lot in their minds. I think that's a lot as well of what we
saw in "The Crown."
But on the whole, I think everyone has said it is his service, his duty, and his position and his love for the Queen always being behind, two steps,
three steps behind her and doing so with a smile on his face and then just worth remembering, he was very witty, very bright young man.
He was a prolific writer for those people who might not know. He wrote something like 14 books, Julia. He gave more than 5,200 speeches.
[09:40:13]
SOARES: He gave his life to this country. He gave up his Greek Royal title, to really step in to this Royal country here and give it all up for
a Queen, for the woman he loved. But he also critically modernized the Royal Family.
He was the first Royal to give a TV interview. He was the one that said to the Queen, that her Coronation should be televised. He understood the
importance of modernizing the monarchy of Britain -- the monarchy on par to its Royal people.
So it's really important that we see him in his entire life and his background, and the fact that he was Royal, but also he was a naval
officer, he was decorated.
I could tell you here because he was decorated for heroism in the Second World War. He received the Greek War Cross of Valor. He gave that all up
for love.
And I think this is something I've heard repeatedly today. And that is the memory that many people will take away today -- Julia.
CHATTERLEY: Royal, but real. Dutiful, and a husband that was loved. Isa, thank you. Isa Soares there.
Stay with us for our special coverage in tribute to Prince Philip.
We will speak to the former Press Secretary about the Duke's role in Queen Elizabeth's reign.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: We return now to the breaking news this morning: Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, the longtime consort and husband to Queen
Elizabeth has died. He was 99.
The plans for any tributes and events to mark his passing have not yet been publicly announced. The U.K. is currently under coronavirus restrictions,
of course.
In his seven decades of service, the Prince often accompanied the Queen on Royal engagements and conducted thousands in his own right. He once
referred to himself as we discussed earlier on the show as the world's most experienced plaque unveiler.
[09:45:18]
CHATTERLEY: While the Queen praised him as her constant strength and guide.
Joining us now is Charles Anson, former Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth. Charles, fantastic to have you with us.
I want to talk to you about what happens next. But first, I'd love to get your observations of the Duke of Edinburgh as someone who spent a great
deal of time with the family.
CHARLES ANSON, FORMER PRESS SECRETARY TO QUEEN ELIZABETH: Well, I spent a lot of time in the 1990s working for the Queen and Prince Philip. It had
been a very difficult decade in the Queen's reign, and I was always struck by how much he was committed to supporting the Queen on every occasion,
whether it was a happy one or more difficult task with members of the family or a sad occasion, but he was always there.
But he also found time to pursue his own professional life, in support of the monarchy, with very wide ranging public duties and contributions with
young people, with the Duke of Edinburgh Award, with the environment, with World Wildlife Fund, in the areas of Science and Technology, and also a
great man of ideas.
So he was a man of action, but he also was a man of ideas. And he liked to see those ideas translated into action to make a better society. His whole
outlook was to look at an area and see, look, how do we make this better together? But it was never about him.
He was a great leader and liked to lead ideas and to open discussion. But his goal always was to make a better world.
And in terms of the monarchy and the Royal Family, he was an enormous support for the Queen to bring the monarchy into the second half of the
20th Century and into the 21st Century as well, constantly a man open to new ideas and new themes.
And that's a remarkable thing for someone of his age, to continue in public duty to the age of 96, contributing ideas and encouraging and helping
people in all sorts of fields.
CHATTERLEY: As you mentioned as well, you were there during an incredibly difficult period for the Royal Family. They've had recent challenges, too.
To what extent was he guiding the Queen in terms of decisions, of perhaps, taking a step back and seeing different views and different perspectives?
And in your experience of the Queen, how does she handle her reign now without him?
ANSON: Well, I think the Queen and Prince Philip very much shared the parental duties of upbringing. And surprisingly, Prince Philip had strong
ideas about education and initiative and sports and achievement.
And I think, you know, from the Queen's point of view, she was bearing a heavy burden of the Crown, of being head of the Commonwealth, and Head of
State in 15 other countries.
So it was very important that her husband, Prince Philip should be active, not only on the public stage and doing so much, but also in the family
arrangements. And he took very much the lead on schooling and encouraging his children to stretch their arms and reach out across different ideas and
different areas of activity where they could take an interest and encourage other people.
So I think his whole -- his whole life, really, his philosophy was to improve and to widen and to expand and stimulate people. And I think, you
know, he was a very -- he was a considerable polymath, and I think of him in the same terms of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who also was
so energetic in so many different fields.
And I think the Queen, very lucky to have such a wonderful consort in Prince Philip and someone who was also able to steer his own course in
public life to make his own contribution, but one which complimented the Queen's at the same time, and that's a great -- that is a great skill to be
able to do that because obviously, he is always in second position.
But in fact, he contributed so much that I think most people, most of us think of Prince Philip as making a very, very considerable contribution of
his own to a better society.
CHATTERLEY: And a good team. Charles, we will let you go there. Charles Anson, former Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth. Thank you for joining us.
Okay, when we come back, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a loving grandfather and a patriot intent on giving back to the country he loved.
The work of the Duke of Edinburgh will live on in so many ways, and when we come back, the Duke's distinguished record of helping young people.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:52:30]
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to CNN's continuing coverage of the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The United Kingdom, and indeed the world, remembering the extraordinary life of the man who stood by the side of Queen Elizabeth for more than 70
years.
The Prince passing away just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson praising the Prince for quote, "His steadfast support for Her Majesty, the Queen." The prince also leaving
behind a distinguished record of public service.
Joining us now John May, the Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, the distinguished award given out to extraordinary
young people for more than 60 years.
John, thank you for joining us this morning. I think, this of anything, will see his energy and his enthusiasm and the empowerment of so many
millions of young people carry on over the coming years.
JOHN MAY, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL AWARD: I think you're right, Julia. The Duke of Edinburgh International Award
operates in more than 130 countries and territories around the world. I don't think that His Royal Highness could possibly have imagined 65 years
ago when he created this simple educational framework that allows young people to find their purpose, their passion, their place in the world, I
don't think he could have imagined that more than a million young people at any one time now would be participating in, you know in a program that
bears his name.
CHATTERLEY: Help some of our viewers understand what it is about this program, I think that best enshrines the personality of the Duke of
Edinburgh, too.
We've talked about him being a pilot flying out of Buckingham Palace, his service to the nation, his military career. John, what do you think best
encompasses who he was as a person within this program?
MAY: Well, funnily enough, I think -- I think the Award, as a framework for what we would say non-formal education and learning kind of just sums
up the Duke.
What we ask young people to do is to commit some time at serving other people, to serving their communities, to learning a skill of some kind,
something that they will take forward into their adult life, getting fit through sport and then learning about leadership through adventurous
activity.
[09:55:02]
MAY: And if they managed to do all four of those things over a period of time, then they can earn their bronze, their silver or their gold Duke of
Edinburgh's Award.
And I mean, when you think about those different elements, each of those are --- they just chime so well with the character of the Duke of Edinburgh
himself.
CHATTERLEY: Honor, duty, enthusiasm and a passion for life and education.
MAY: Yes, absolutely. And a commitment from him to ensure that young people achieve to their aspirations and that they aim really, really high
and that was true 65 years ago when he founded the Award and it is true today.
There are young people from every possible background you could imagine from Nairobi through London, through indeed in Chicago in the U.S.A., all
forging their own individual roots through this Award framework and in so doing, discovering what it is like to achieve.
And I would have to say, I know about it personally because when I was 18 years old, I did my Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award and it set me off on my
career. So, I have the Duke personally to thank for setting me on the right path.
CHATTERLEY: And his legacy will live on. John, fantastic to have you on. Thank you.
John May, the Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award there.
Okay, Becky Anderson picks up our special coverage in the next hour. Stay with CNN, all day for the latest developments following the sad passing of
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:00]
END
