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First Move with Julia Chatterley

Prince Philip Dead at Age 99; St. Vincent's La Soufriere Volcano Erupts. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired April 09, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I'm Julia CHATTERLEY in New York where we are continuing our coverage of the sad news from the United

Kingdom this hour. Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died. The Duke of Edinburgh was 99 years old, just two months shy of his

100th birthday.

Tributes and recollections are pouring in from around the globe, mourning a man who was a beloved figure on the world stage for three quarters of a

century. A Buckingham Palace statement said he passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Prince Philip once joking called himself the

world's most experienced plaque unveiler.

To the queen, though, he was her "constant strength and guide." He'll be remembered for his extensive charitable work as a hero of the Second World

War, his decades of public service, and of course his incredible devotion to his wife, the Queen.

Max Foster is CNN'S World Correspondent, and he joins us now from Windsor in England. Max, we clearly mourn a great loss today, but we also, I

think, have to celebrate the life and the contribution that he made to his family, to the monarchy, to our nation, but also many nations and

organizations around the world too.

MAX FOSTER, CNN'S WORLD CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so he - he had a, you know, a very difficult childhood, frankly. You know, he described himself as a

refugee having to leave Greece as a toddler and only able to travel and have a passport because the Danish Royal Family stepped in. He was a

Danish; he was a Greek Prince.

He renounced those titles effectively after he met Princess Elizabeth. And throughout their marriage, their long marriage, 73 years, he was by her

side, her closest confidant, closest advisor, and really did help steer the British Monarchy, as the prime minister said today.

So he did have a huge influence on the monarchy, but also had to redefine his own role with conversation, with the Duke of Edinburgh reward (ph)

scheme, and as someone who ran the family behind the scenes, but always sat behind the queen when in public.

CHATTERLEY: Max, stay right there because I want to get your take on this. He was, of course, the longest serving consort in British history. Prince

Philip married Queen Elizabeth in 1947. And in the seven decades that followed, it was actually rare to see them apart. Max walks us through a

look back at the extraordinary life of the Duke of Edinburgh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: 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 II: 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. She never looked at anybody else, ever, and I think she really, truly, has been a rock.

FOSTER: The couple married in Westminister 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 and abundance.

FOSTER: 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 have sacrificed his life. He did it too, sacrificed his life, because that's -

he would've loved to 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 Leftenant Mountbatten met before the Second World War when he was a young Naval cadet.

ROBERT HARDMAN, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: Number one job from 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 greatest royal romances I think of history. People talk about Victoria in Alba as a phrase that 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.

[11:05:00]

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 of pivotal, pivotal point of because he was the head of the family. He was - I'd say

his responsibility as a father to be - that he does that extremely well.

FOSTER: Would it have been difficult for him always in public to sake a backseat.

CONSTANTINE II: I would have thought that anybody was that - responsibility will find it, i will say, taxing but you - when you have

this whole concept in your blood and you keep your sense of humor and your sense dignity, then you carry it out beautifully.

FOSTER: And once 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 Obama's in 2009, a reference to world leaders.

PHILIP: Can you tell the difference between them?

FOSTER: Prince Philip, serviceman, campaigner, great grandfather, and a beloved husband.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHATTERLEY: And Max is still with us in Windsor. Max, and so much more, despite your fantastic description there of all the things that he's done

over the decades, though is that moment that you pulled out where he described the queen as having tolerance and abundance, and the look that

she sort of gave at that moment. And I think this is part of what we need to underscore here is the duty, the support, the relationship that they had

for so many decades and how pivotal I think that's been to the queen.

FOSTER: Yes, and on a very personal level. You often saw them laughing together. If you think about it, Prince Philip was the only person that the

queen was able to be normal with, even her own children have to curtsey and bow to her when they first see her. Prince Philip would obviously wake up

in the same apartment and has a very level - had a very relationship with her.

She doesn't have that anymore. And he did have a great sense of humor. A lot of people found it quite offensive on occasion, I think we can say

that, but the Archbishop of Canterbury, I just had a segment through from the Church of England, and the Archbishop of Canterbury says in this "On

the occasions when I met him, I was always struck by his obvious joy at life, his inquiring mind and his ability to communicate with people from

every background and walk of life. He was a master of putting people at ease and making them feel special."

And I think, Julia, that was actually quite useful on these very formal occasions, state occasions, when everyone was very nervous and uptight, and

he would come in, crack a joke, and it would help everyone relax. And actually that served a purpose, and it became part of the monarchy as we

know it, and it's no longer there.

CHATTERLEY: Richard and I, Richard Quest and I earlier, were saying that he was royal but real, and that was part of the charm, I think, of - as how we

as Brits, but others around the world, perceived him.

Max, we were also discussing the fact that unless you're in your late '70s or older, you don't know the world without him, without him as a constant

presence there in the royal family and with the queen. And I think for everybody watching this today, whatever you feel about the monarchy, you

can't help but be moved. What are people saying to you there?

FOSTER: Well, it's difficult. You know, we've had this note from the cabinet office, part of the British government, asking people not to lay

flowers, and yet you go up into Windsor, you go to Buckingham Palace, and flowers are being laid. They're concerned about COVID. People are being

pushed away from locations. But they obviously want to express themselves. I think we'll see more and more of that in the coming days.

[11:10:00]

When you talk about how he was this constant presence, this, you know, it's fundamental to the monarchy. One of the roles of a monarch is to represent

continuity. So despite the ups and downs in the world and your lives, the queen, the monarchy, is always there. That's what she can offer, which

politician's can't. And Philip was very much part of that.

Obviously, in recent years since he retired, we didn't see as much of him, but he would occasionally turn up at family events, and we always knew he

was there in the background. So I think looking forward, one of the things we need to look for is how the queen's role is effective. I don't think

she's ever going to abdicate, but we may not see as much of her in future. She may have a different tone to her. And we'll certainly see Prince

Charles and Prince William having to step up even more than they have been doing in recent years.

CHATTERLEY: I mean, we certainly are entering a new era. And to your point, we actually don't know what that looks like. I think one of the other

things that we've been talking about, and you've mentioned it too, is how Prince Philip was the patriarch of the family. He took such a strong,

concerted role in how the family grew up, how they were educated.

Max, how do you think the relationship with the family evolves now, particularly in recent months and weeks without him?

FOSTER: Well, it's interesting. I mean, if there's a criticism of the monarchy in recent - in the recent year or two, it's been that they were

very slow to respond to crises. Prince Andrew, the Sussex's, why did they allow these situations to blow up in the way that they did. And one of the

theories is that Prince Philip, since he retired from his public role, also stepped up - back a bit from his role as head of the family behind the

scenes.

And perhaps he wasn't banging heads together in the way that he had done in the past. That was certainly his role. He ran the family. He chose where

his kids would go to school. He would resolve the crisis, but that wasn't so much the case in recent years. So it comes down to the queen, really, to

make ultimate decisions, as it always has done.

But, you know, in recent times we saw Prince Charles and Prince William having to come together and agree a way forward to present to the queen.

That happened with both the Sussex's and with Prince Andrew. And I think that's what we're going to have to see more on. And it's interesting to see

William and Charles come together on that as well.

So a monarchy evolves all time, and it's evolving now. And with Prince Philip passing, we see an era passing, really, where blue blooded families

would marry. He was a prince. She was a princess. That's changed since then, and what he represents moves on.

You know, he was - served in World War II. He's a - seen as a war hero by many. But now, you know, that time moves on. And it's going to be

interesting to see how it plays out. But, you know, the monarchy has a thousand year history of planning for these events, so I'm sure they know

what they're doing.

CHATTERLEY: Yes, and you're seeing live pictures there of Windsor Castle in England where the Queen remains, of course, and now in mourning. Max, great

to have you with us, thank you.

OK, let's move on. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh earlier from Downing Street, honoring Prince Philip's

life and work.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS 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.

Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary, her majesty said that our country owed her husband a greater debt than he would ever claim or we

shall ever know, and I'm sure that estimate is correct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHATTERLEY: Kate Williams is a royal commentator and historian and she joins us now from London. Kate, great to have you with us.

Just help us understand the role, the duty, the influence that Prince Philip has played over the last several decades because I think in many

respects, our focus remains on the more recent years, as we were talking to Max there, of gaffes and humor versus some of the incredible roles that he

played in pushing the monarchy forward, but also in supporting important causes too.

KATE WILLIAMS, ROYAL COMMENTATOR AND HISTORIAN: Yes, Julia. It was 73 years married and 74 years that this late - would be later on this November. But

the Prince, Prince Philip, has been beside the queen for all of his life. She fell in love with him when she was 13. They married in 1947. She's

talked of him as her strength and her stay.

He's always been there for her, supporting the monarchy and supporting her. And in a role that has changed immeasurable, monarchy has changed

immeasurably during this period.

[11:15:00]

And it's amazing to think that Prince Philip, born in 1921, women didn't even have the vote here in the U.K., and not until 1926 for those aged over

30, of property - who owned property.

And Philip has seen the world change in terms of technology, in terms of travel, in terms of news, in terms of perceptions of the royal family and

what would be said about them. And everything has impacted on monarchy. And his legacy to the queen is invaluable, everything he's given her, but also

to the monarchy and, as she said, to his causes.

So in terms of the monarchy, he saw so much insecurity. As a child, he was Danish royal family, then became the Greek royal family. And when he was a

child in Corfu, they had to flee because his uncle, the Greek king, was flung off his thrown. Of course, Prince Philip was related to the Russian

royal family who were - who also were flung off their throne in short just before he was born.

He saw royal families fall off their thrones in Europe, and he knew that this was possible. So he always thought about how the monarchy appeared,

and he was instrumental in the televising of the coronation, really in the point of view in 1953 when the queen - the queen was kind to whisper to Mr.

Abbey saying "Well, people pay for this, they should be allowed to see it."

And his causes, conservation, he was talking about conservation long before it became well known in public opinion, the idea of conserving mammals, and

also design and engineering. In first world (ph) Britain, it was a huge recession. They couldn't even have a day off for the marriage of Elizabeth

and Philip in 1947 because that would have been seen as wrecking the economy.

So he really pushed forward the idea of engineering and design and commercial innovation, was integral to the College of Engineering, and set

up the Prince Philip design prize. And actually, the first winner of that was a small refrigerator, a refrigerator that people could have in small

homes and apartments.

And really, I think, was so vital to all of his causes, to his over 750 charities, 22,000 engagements. He gave 100%, he gave everything he could,

and he was one who underwent and went through so much great sacrifice, personal and public, to support the monarchy.

CHATTERLEY: He's also known for energy and enthusiasm for whatever he tackles. And again, we come back to this sort of wicked sense of humor. And

a lot of the images that we see of the queen and Prince Philip together in the past, you catch these moments where they both light up with laughter.

How important has that been as a pillar of strength in guiding the queen and the royal family through some incredibly difficult periods over the

years?

WILLIAMS: The duke has been the queen's pillar of strength. And she came to the throne as a very young woman. He was the man who had to break it to

her. It was 1952, the queen and the prince - the queen - Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, and Prince Philip, they were in Kenya about to

begin a royal tour, and they were over this watering hole to watch the animals drinking and no one could see - no one knew they were there.

And lots of people heard the news before them, and then Prince Philip heard the news was out that the king was dead, who the queen had loved so much.

And he had to tell her that her father was dead and that she was now queen at such a young age, barely in her mid-20s, she was now queen of this - of

the huge country of the commonwealth.

And she had to go back and resume her duties. And he's been there every step of the way. Neither of them expected her to become queen so quickly

because when she became queen, he had to give up his naval duties and he had shown as a naval man, he loved the sacrifice and the devotion. He had

to give up everything for the monarchy much earlier than they had expected.

The king, King George VI, was expected to live much more. It was only - he was only a young man then. And he's always devoted himself and given so

much to her. And let's remember back, 2002, when her mother died and her sister died. We saw her emotion, and Prince Philip was there supporting

her, and now he is no longer here. He's always been there to support her.

And I think, actually, particularly in the most recent COVID times, in COVID times, they have been bubbling together. They spent Christmas

together because in Britain, we've been very restricted on who we can see at Christmas, particularly in the south of England, because there was

variants. So they were together at Christmas, really just the two of them and the staff, and that has been an extraordinary moment of closeness.

And really, I think, that would be even harder for her because the rules as they stand really mean that she probably can't meet Prince Charles indoors

to condole her, the laws (ph). So she - he has always been there, the strength, the stay, and also someone to talk to as a monarch.

You can't talk to everyone. You can't confide your problems in everyone or your difficulties or your questions because they would get talked about. So

he's always been there as a sounding board to discuss matters, personal, political, and he is a great loss to her.

[11:20:00]

CHATTERLEY: I read that they met first at a family wedding when she was 8 and he was 13, I'm sure the Queen can barely remember a world without him

either.

WILLIAMS: Yes, and they met then - and they were always related of course because they're both decedents from Queen Victoria. He was the great-great-

great grandson of Queen Victoria, they are cousins. But they met again when she was 13 and he was 18, a visit to Dartmouth Naval College. He was a top

rated cadet, he was about to go to war, she was just a child but she fell head over heels in love with him.

It was devotion from that very minute. He of course didn't see her in that way, he was a young man, she was a child but later on during the war they

wrote to each other during the war, and during the war he used to come and stay at Windsor Castle because he had no home, he had no family.

You know, Prince Philip had no relation (ph) (inaudible) to look after him. His sisters had all married German officers so he was fighting on the ally

side and they were on the German side, he cut off all relations with him and they couldn't come to his wedding later.

So he used to come to visit Windsor Castle and the royal family, and that was a real insight for him into a warm, loving family. His mother had been

shut up in a mental asylum for her mental difficulties. His father had really lived in Mount Harris and Monaco (ph) and not taken much notice of

him, packed him off to school.

And he was entranced by the warmth of the family, and Elizabeth and Margaret, they used to do these really - very engaging pantomimes dressed

up in pantomimes and use some old royal clothes they found in Windsor Castle.

And that's, I think, when she was 16, 17 is when Philip fell in love with her and saw this young woman who was so devoted to her family and

determined at that point to play a role in World War II as he had. The two of them had that together, they were two of the few people left in this

country who can remember serving in World War II, in that generation (ph) so many of whom have left us.

CHATTERLEY: What a legacy. Kate, thank you so much for your insights.

More on the death of Prince Philip in a few moments time. We'll look back on a remarkable life, one that touched so many others both in Britain, and

beyond.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:00]

CHATTERLEY: In Great Britain, tributes are being paid to the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, who has died aged 99.

Crowds have been gathering outside Buckingham Palace to lay flowers, flags are flying at half-mast across London, including at Downing Street and the

Houses of Parliament.

Sporting bodies have also been paying tribute with the Prince having been both a spectator and participant in sports throughout his lifetime. The

British Olympic Association and All England Lawn Tennis Club are among those expressing their deepest sadness.

However, unlike in previous times of mourning, the public is being asked to stay away from funeral events because of the threat of COVID-19.

Anna Stewart is outside Buckingham Palace for us. Anna, we have more details, I believe, of the funeral. What can you tell us?

STEWART: Hello Julia, yes, it's a somber mood out here outside Buckingham Palace. We do have a little bit more information, though, from when we last

spoke.

The College of Arms which sort of represents and organizes ceremonial events for the Royal Family have sent out a statement saying that the

funeral will be held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

We don't have a date for that, but it's very much in line with the wishes of Prince Philip.

We know that it will not be state funeral and there will be no lying in state.

Now actually, none of this is particularly surprising.

Anyone that knows Prince Philip would know that he's a man that doesn't like a huge fuss.

So it was never expected to have big sort of a big state funeral, but rather a ceremonial one in line with funerals such as the Queen Mother's or

of course, Princess Diana.

But it is expected to be on a much smaller scale, of course due to the pandemic and the College of Arms also said that in light of the pandemic

they are requesting that members of the public don't attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral.

So that will be front and center, I think, with the planning.

We're expecting to get a bit more detail tomorrow, according to Royal source speaking to CNN.

We are seeing people laying flowers and gathering here outside Buckingham Place, outside the gates.

However, the Cabinet Officer has said that they would rather people didn't gather outside Royal residences given the U.K. and England is still in

partial lockdown, they want people to obey the public health guidelines.

But of course, so many people want to pay their respects to a man who has such an incredible legacy. Julia.

CHATTERLEY: And very quickly, Anna, because you're obviously talking to people there, what are they saying?

STEWART: Well people are just remembering him for not just his incredible role, 65 years of active service in his Royal role, his military career,

but also the passions he had in life.

Whether it was for polo or for carriage driving, the fun that he brought.

He was quite a comedian at times, he once described himself as the world's greatest plaque un-veiler.

So speaking to people around Buckingham Palace, I think there's a feeling of love and warmth towards the Royal Family.

And everyone, of course, thinking of Her Majesty the Queen who has lost her husband of 73 years.

CHATTERLEY: Yes, our hearts are with her for sure. Anna Stewart, thank you for that. Stay with us for more of our coverage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Tributes are pouring in as the world remembers Great Britain's Prince Philip. Buckingham Palace announced that

the Duke of Edinburgh and the husband of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 99.

He was the longest serving consort in British history. He's being remembered for his charitable work and dedication to public service. The

British Parliament will hold a special session in his honor on Monday.

CNN's Isa Soares is live at Windsor Castle where the duke passed peacefully this morning.

Isa, great to have you with us. It's a day of huge mourning and also a day where we celebrate the great contribution that he made, too.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm glad you made that point, Julie. From speaking to people here, that's what I've taken away more than anything.

It's the extraordinary life he led of public service.

The man, the husband, the father, the patriarch, standing alongside or just a few feet behind the queen. That's what people remember. One person said

to me the thing I'll take away is that he's always there. He was always present and by her side throughout 73 years of marriage.

That is an incredible life of service and relationship, incredible love between them both. Worth reminding, the point you make is the fact that he,

too, had an extraordinary life, which he gave up for the woman he met, when the queen was only 13, 14 years of age.

What I've heard today has -- I saw people laying flowers, tributes being paid although we've been asked publicly not to do so because of COVID-19,

people are still coming out.

He commands so much respect and admiration. And people are incredibly moved. One lady choked up because she remembered singing in the choir for

Prince Philip. One woman said, it's end of this legacy. She was worried the queen might become frail of a broken heart and she worried about what it

meant for the monarchy.

These are from local people coming out to pay their respects.

[11:35:00]

SOARES: This was a man admired by many. He was very witty. He was a colorful character. He also came from royalty. He was born on a dining room

table in 1921 in Corfu. He had an incredibly difficult upbringing. For 18 months after his birth he went into exile.

He didn't have much of a relationship with his father and his mother became ill. He lost his sister in an aircraft crash. So the family he built with

the queen and the patriarchy became for -- the family, he really was her rock, the wind beneath her wings. I think that's what people take away from

the man and the legacy.

CHATTERLEY: The wind beneath her wings. I don't know the truth of this but in everything I read this morning, something stuck out to me. I want to

share it with you, too.

At the coronation, Prince Philip turned around to her and said, "Where did you get that hat?"

I think that encompasses something about the humor and the love.

SOARES: He -- without a doubt, he was very quick witted.

(CROSSTALK)

CHATTERLEY: Witty.

(CROSSTALK)

SOARES: Yes, he made lots of gaffes but he was very witty and very colorful. He did something like 5,000 speeches and wrote 14 books. But he

was always very funny. I think people remember that.

I don't know from hearing on the media, from hearing the comments during his time accompanying the queen or anything that have taken away from

watching "The Crown." That's the man that so many people remember. I remember a journalist asking him, coming off the plane, how was that

flight, sir?

And he said, "Have you ever flown before?"

And the journalist said yes.

He said, "Well, that's what it was like."

That's the man so many remember; father, yes, but incredible individual, human being who served, dedicated so much of his life to public service --

Julia.

CHATTERLEY: Royal but real. I'll keep saying it.

"Where did you get that hat?"

Isa, great to have you with us. Thank you.

As we have been discussing, the relationship between Prince Philip and the queen considered one of the greatest war love stories in modern times. The

couple were together for seven decades. One of the queen's cousins say he was quite simply her rock.

The prince once said the essential ingredient to any marriage is tolerance. Few relationships have ever been so closely in the public eye. Max Foster

looks back.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a love affair that lasted more than seven decades. As Queen Elizabeth celebrated jubilee

after jubilee and went on to become the longest serving British monarch in history, Philip was always by her side.

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

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

god.

(LAUGHTER)

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

FOSTER (voice-over): The couple married in Westminster Abbey on November 20th, 1947. Since then, Prince Philip was an almost constant presence at

the queen's side. If this companionship came at a personal price, it was one that he was prepared to pay.

RHODES: Just to have been there all the time behind her and really to have sacrificed his life. He did it, too, sacrificed his life. Gladly would have

loved to have gone on in Navy and really made a career out of that. So he sacrificed, too.

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

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

ROBERT HARDMAN, AUTHOR: And his number one job from the word go has been to, quote, "support the queen." Everything he does is in support of the

queen. And it's just been one of the great royal romances, I think, of history.

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

Elizabeth and Philip in exactly the same way.

FOSTER (voice-over): As part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the queen toured the U.K.

[11:40:00]

FOSTER (voice-over): And with her, the handsome prince she met as a shy teenager, the man who was always by her side.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHATTERLEY: Another of the prince's great loves was nature and wildlife. His passion for the great outdoors was often displayed during trips to

Scotland, such as here in the Shetlands. He was also the patron of many organizations and was the former president of the World Wide Fund for

Nature. The director general of the WWF International Marco Lambertini joins us now.

Marco, fantastic to have you with us. Your thoughts today.

MARCO LAMBERTINI, WWF INTERNATIONAL: Well, indeed, it's a very sad day for us because Prince Philip helped to form the WWF 60 years ago this very

month, April 1961. So he's been associated with the WWF for all the 60 years of our history. So it's a day with a heavy heart.

CHATTERLEY: How evolved has he been over the years?

We all know he was incredibly passionate about conservation before it became something far more focused on. It was always a passion of his.

What real role did he play in shaping the development of the WWF?

LAMBERTINI: He played a role, broadly speaking, in shaping the thinking of the conservation movement at the time. He was definitely, personally deeply

and genuinely passionate about nature. Also, he was a tireless champion for the environment, generally early barometers (ph).

Prince Philip really dedicated his voice, positions, influence to his awareness for the environment for 60 years and advocated for wildlife and

the environment, political, corporate and religion leaders.

And also he was a true visionary, seeing from those early days the accelerating destruction of the natural world and particularly in seeing

the dangers that this was posing not only to the natural world itself but also to humanity.

And this is a man just (INAUDIBLE) today visited the challenges of climate change and the loss of nature (INAUDIBLE).

CHATTERLEY: It's something he's passed onto his son, Prince Charles, and to his grandsons, too, are also incredibly passionate about this aspect of

trying to protect the planet and wildlife.

LAMBERTINI: Absolutely. Absolutely. I was about to say, in fact, if you allow me to add something to his legacy, it's exactly contribution to the

environment. It's exactly how Prince Philip passed on to his children and grandchildren his passion for nature.

This is a passion that Prince Philip, a commitment that never really faded. I had the privilege personally to meet him several times until recently,

before he stopped at public events, doing the ceremony (INAUDIBLE) Duke of Edinburgh (INAUDIBLE).

And every time we met he was constantly asking me for updates on WWF projects, they supported as long as (INAUDIBLE) national parks across the

world, marine conservation program that instigated in the WWF.

So a person that was truly, truly, deeply committed. I heard before the contributions saying, he was always there for his family, his wife, the

queen. He's been always there for the environment.

CHATTERLEY: Marco, fantastic to have you on. Great to get your personal experiences with the Duke of Edinburgh, too. Thank you, sir.

We've just heard from the White House on the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh. A statement from the president and the first lady says, "On

behalf of all the people of the United States, we send our deepest condolences to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family

and all the people of the United Kingdom on the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

"His legacy will live on not only through his family but in all the charitable endeavors he shaped. Jill and I are keeping the queen, Prince

Philip's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in our hearts during this time."

After the break, the day's other news, including a volcano erupts in the Caribbean. A major evacuation is underway on the island of St Vincent. Our

live report -- next.

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[11:45:00]

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CHATTERLEY: A major volcano is erupting right now in the southern Caribbean. The volcano on the main island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

is spewing massive clouds of ash and smoke into the sky. Patrick Oppmann is in Havana, Cuba.

What more can you tell us?

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just about three hours ago, something took place that hasn't happened in nearly 42 years, which is this volcano

in St. Vincent began to explode and, luckily, since last night, authorities in St. Vincent have been warning people, need to evacuate people from this

area.

They did know that this was imminent, this volcano was likely to explode and there are about 6,000 to 7,000 people who were advised to leave, given

mandatory evacuation warnings.

That may not sound like a lot of people but this is an island chain that only has about 110,000 people in it. Starting yesterday afternoon, we saw

cruise ships being brought in. They were empty to ferry people away from the area that would be affected by this volcano explosion.

The government ordering people to leave the area. And many did. Many are now in shelters. That is the good news.

There's no immediate word on damage caused by this volcano explosion that sent plumes of ash 20,000 feet up into the air or any people that could

have been injured. It appears the government was able to warn people early and that likely saved lives.

The government is warning people now to keep up with precautions against the coronavirus because, as people are evacuated, as they have to go into

shelters, they will be in close contact, which exposes them to a different danger.

But spectacular images we are seeing of Mother Nature's fury coming from St. Vincent, something that's not happened in decades.

CHATTERLEY: Spectacular, your words. I would say terrifying, the steam we were looking at there.

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CHATTERLEY: We'll take a short break. Stay with CNN for more continuing coverage following the passing of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

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

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

lost her life partner.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he embodies everything about the country, really. And I think he's just a real kind of a royal go on (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This morning I was in tears. And it's just a sudden news about him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he was a complicated man but he was very hard-working. And she loved him. And I think, in his way, he loved her. I

think that's wonderful. And it was a very, very long love story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHATTERLEY: Welcome back.

A reminder of the breaking news today, around the world, tributes are being paid to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away peacefully at

Windsor Castle this morning. The queen's husband was 99 years old and just two months short of his 100th birthday.

Richard Quest joins us now.

I was just thinking what legacy he leaves behind. I think it's love, loyalty and laughter and, for most of us around the world, we don't know a

world without him.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR AT LARGE: Absolutely. From the day I was born, 1962, Prince Philip, the queen, have been such an integral part

of anybody who is British, a member of the Commonwealth, for whom the queen is head of state, an integral part of our lives.

Summed up, by the way, that laughter, that sort of brusqueness, that refreshing saltiness, if you will, was summed up this morning by the former

British prime minister, Sir John Major, who described Prince Philip as "the ballast of the ship of state for 70 years."

That really puts it into beautiful context because he was always there. He had no official role within the constitution but you knew he was the most

important person to the queen.

"The ballast of the ship of state." That picture we're showing now just sums it up. That was taken on their last wedding anniversary. That just

sums up the pomp, the ceremony, the circumstance but the relationship between the two of them.

CHATTERLEY: The fact that he brought the monarchy into the 20th century. There was concern that he was this fresh wind and he would be a

destabilizing factor to the monarchy. Yet he was the ultimate stabilizer in many ways for a young queen that took over as a incredibly young woman.

QUEST: If you bear in mind, that everybody bows to you, curtseys to you.

[11:55:00]

QUEST: Even your own children, when they first see you in the morning, Prince Philip was the one man who could treat Elizabeth as a human being,

who was with her morning, noon and night; begat children together, had family, they went through divorces. And throughout, he was the only one --

he was the first person she would speak to and the last at night.

That gives them a relationship as, indeed, any married couple but particularly here, one where he was the strength and rock upon which she

relied. How she moves forward now, that will be the big question.

CHATTERLEY: A huge question. I want to ask you about the question he asked at the coronation, whether he did or not, "Where did you get that hat?"

It plays to the humor, the support, the laughter that we often see when they are caught off guard in pictures.

QUEST: I can't even tell you. I just can't even go through some of the comments that he made these days. Even quoting them would be politically

incorrect and wrong to do so. But he did. He made those comments, that it was straight off the top of his head. We were horrified, no question about

it.

Did he really say that?

But at the same time, he was beloved because, in a world where the royalty was such an integral part of what we had, he was at the center and he was

honest.

CHATTERLEY: As we said earlier, Richard, royal but real, well and truly.

Now we wish the queen great strength and love. Richard Quest there.

The royal family has launched a book of condolences on its website. That's www.royal.U.K. They are asking people not to leave flowers. But you can

sign the virtual book if you have a message to send them.

We'll continue to bring you the reaction to the death of Prince Philip right after this short break, where Hala Gorani will continue our coverage,

live from Windsor Castle. Stay with CNN.

END