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Quest Means Business
Prince Philip, the Husband of Queen Elizabeth II is Being Mourned in Britain and Around the World; Tributes Paid To Prince Philip, Who Has Died Aged 99; Myanmar's U.N. Envoy Urges Security Council To Take Action; Bells Of Westminster Abbey Ring In Honor Of Prince Philip. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired April 09, 2021 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:30]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS HOST: Good evening, I'm Richard Quest live in New York.
Tonight, Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II is being mourned in Britain and around the world.
The Duke of Edinburgh was 99 years old, just two months shy of his 100th birthday.
Tributes and recollections are arriving by the minute from around the world. They are mourning a man who was a beloved figure on the world stage
for three quarters of a century.
The Buckingham Palace's statement said: "Prince Philip passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle." The Prince once jokingly called
himself the world's most experienced plaque unveiler. To the Queen, he was in her words constant strength and guide, and he'll be remembered for his
extensive charitable work as a hero of the Second World War and his incredible devotion to his wife, the Queen and to his country.
Our Royal correspondent Max Foster takes a look back at the extraordinary life of the Duke of Edinburgh.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL 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 sort of 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.
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?
[15:10:10]
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)
QUEST: Now at CNN, we've learned that Prince Philip will not lie in state, instead, his funeral will take place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor
Castle. Those were the Prince's own wishes.
Max Foster is our Royal correspondent. He is with me now this evening outside Windsor. Obviously, whatever plans there had been, Max. However,
the funeral was meant to be, it's going to be changed even further because of COVID restrictions.
FOSTER: Yes, so he was pretty clear. He didn't want a lot of fuzz. There was due to be a short procession though, at some point over this period,
but that won't be the case anymore.
Everything will be happening within Castle grounds, and we will expect all the details of that to be confirmed, including the dates tomorrow.
There's a lot to work through as you're suggesting with the pandemic. We're still in lockdown here effectively, even though things are loosening up
somewhat.
So they're going to have to figure out what sort of events they can have within the car. So, what sort of people can be involved with that? How many
staff? How many guests?
There's a lot to consider here. But I think, you know, Prince Philip wouldn't be sitting there wanting to have a big affair, disappointed about
not having a big affair. It'll be down to the Queen really to sort of sign off on the plans probably today, something that she feels does credit his
contribution to the monarchy in the U.K. and the Commonwealth, but also doesn't overplay it too much embarrass him if he was able to see it.
QUEST: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reacted to the news of the death of Harry's grandfather. Now, there's a message on the website of their
charitable organization, Archewell. It says: "In loving memory of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh" and the date, "Thank you for your service,
you will be greatly missed."
New York papers are saying that Harry certainly will fly back for the funeral. It's not known whether the Duchess will be able to because of
course, she is heavily pregnant at the time. So what will the family make of that on the website and the plans?
FOSTER: Well, I think it's interesting. So Prince Harry is the only member of the family that's made an official statement so far. I think other
members of the family are waiting for the Queen perhaps to make a statement. We'll have to wait to see what the process was there. But he's
made the statement on his website, and obviously, he is deeply affected by it.
He was close to his great -- to Prince Philip. And you'll remember after that Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry made it very clear to Oprah that Philip
and the Queen weren't involved in those comments in relation to race, which proved so controversial. He wanted to protect them from that. So that
showed the level of reverence he has for the couple and who the whole family have for the couple.
I do understand they have had visitors stay from the family. I'll be able to confirm some more details about that today. The Queen has seen members
of the family today. So she is being consoled, but you know, I think everyone's heart is really going out to her.
She sits in the Castle tonight. She spent the last year with Philip in a bubble in the Castle. So she's had that -- she had that time with him. But
she's very lonely right now. I gather, she's just there with her key members of staff.
QUEST: Max Foster. Max, thank you.
We heard from the White House a short time ago. The President tweeted sending his condolences on behalf of the American people saying: "Prince
Philip's legacy will live on not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavors he shaped. Jill and I are keeping the Queen and Prince
Philip's children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and the people of the United Kingdom in our hearts during this time."
[15:10:08]
QUEST: The Prince was a champion for charitable causes all around the world, in particular, close to his heart, the Duke of Edinburgh's
International award.
Over the last six decades, the program has reached students in more than 130 countries. He also gave his name to The Prince Philip Gordonstoun
Foundation, which is an endowment helping lower income children access the school he attended as a boy.
He was one of the school's very first students in 1934. He was head boy in his final year, and regularly returned throughout his life to meet with the
children there.
Lisa Kerr is the current principal at Gordonstoun. She joins me from Elgin in Scotland. Lisa, thank you. Gordonstoun plays a fascinating role in the
Duke of Edinburgh's life because it is, you know, having been born in Corfu, in Greece and Paris, and then London, this is the first real moment
where one might describe as character being built in more formal surroundings.
LISA KERR, PRINCIPAL, GORDONSTOUN SCHOOL: I think that's absolutely right, and I think what we see is that after a pretty turbulent childhood,
Gordonstoun is a place where Prince Philip finds stability, security, love, and all the things that begin then to shape him as a person.
The activities he loved, and the elements that become part of his character over the following many, many decades.
QUEST: Do you think he appreciated that things changed at Gordonstoun and the Gordonstoun that he went to, was not the same as that of Prince
Charles.
KERR: I think he really did understand that the essential elements of Gordonstoun, whether in 1934 when he joined or today remain the same. And
of course, he recognized that a number of things changed over the years, you know, we have very comfortable, warm, cozy boarding houses these days.
We also have girls now. When he was there, it was just boys.
But the essential elements of Gordonstoun that so many children from all around the world enjoy today, were the things that he treasured. Now, those
were things like building a love of the outdoors, learning to love the sea and understand the extent to which being on the sea is a great educational
tool.
In fact, his headmaster called the Moray Firth, is best school master. But I think really critically for Prince Philip was the life of service that he
lived, and how we can trace that back to Gordonstoun, because Kurt Hahn instilled in the Gordonstoun curriculum, and it's still part of what we do
today, a sense of service to others.
You mentioned Prince Philip was head boy, the title we give to that role at Gordonstoun is "Guardian," because that position of seniority isn't about
power, it is about service, about looking after others, and that sense of looking after others that he had as Guardian was also part of his training,
our watch keepers, our Coast Guards.
QUEST: Right. And I can see a direct lineage between what you're talking about and the sort of -- I would say charitable is the wrong word, but the
sort of service besides just to the Queen, that he was involved with.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, which of course was about outdoors, adventures, teamwork, coming together, and the World Wildlife Fund. Again,
nature, outdoors. This was very much, even right down to his carriage driving, which of course, he continued well into his late 80s and 90s.
KERR: You're absolutely right. And the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, of course, began at Gordonstoun. It has its roots in the Moray Badge, and
Prince Philip was one of the first pupils to gain the top grade of Moray Badge, the silver award. He was also one of the first students who taught
other local children when they were brought into the Moray Badge.
And then 20 years later, Kurt Hahn approached him and said, we can do so much more with this. There's a worldwide movement here. There's a way to
give children all around the world a little bit of what you experienced at Gordonstoun, that service, that love of the outdoors, that developing new
skills, and he was persuaded to become -- to give his name, to give his patronage to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
And through that, for us, it is a great sense of pride that children all around the world have been able to experience a little bit of an education
that we know meant so much to the Duke of Edinburgh.
QUEST: Lisa, thank you. Thank you for taking time this evening on a sad day to join us and talk about it. Very grateful. Lisa Kerr of Gordonstoun
School.
We'll have more on the death of Prince Philip in a moment. What we know about the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral arrangements. You heard us talk about
it just briefly with Max Foster. Anna Stewart will be with me in just a moment to put some more details on those that we know.
This is CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:17:39]
QUEST: As messages of condolence arrived from around the world following Prince Philip, here are some reaction from Commonwealth leaders.
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi says: "My thoughts are with the British people and the Royal Family on the passing of Prince Philip. He had
a distinguished career in the military and was at the forefront of many community service initiatives."
In New Zealand, the Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said: "Prince Philip will be fondly remembered for the encouragement he gave so many young New
Zealanders through The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award."
While in Australia, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that: "Prince Philip was no stranger to Australia having visited our country on more than
20 occasions. The Commonwealth family joins together in sorrow and thanksgiving for the loss of life of Prince Philip."
Our colleague, Christiane Amanpour spoke to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations who explained what the Prince had meant to the
people of the Commonwealth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICIA SCOTLAND, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS: The Prince was important to all of them, because you have to remember that when
the then Princess Elizabeth became Queen, in Kenya, it was Prince Philip, who had to tell her that her father had died and that she was now Queen,
but they were in the middle of a Commonwealth Tour, which they had undertaken on behalf of the then King.
So from the whole of their married life, the Commonwealth was an integral part of their existence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Buckingham Palace expected to confirm funeral arrangements. The announcement is expected on Saturday.
Mourners are placing flowers at the Palace gates to honor the Prince although U.K.'s government's Cabinet office is advising against doing such
tributes because of COVID.
A spokesman said: "We are asking the public not together at Royal residences, and to continue to follow public health advice, particularly on
avoiding meeting in large groups and on minimizing travel. We are supporting the Royal Household and asking that floral tributes should not
be laid at Royal residences at this time."
Anna Stewart is at Buckingham Palace. Anna, I'm imagining that in pre-COVID days, there would have been many more tributes and larger crowds, almost
certainly that would have gathered outside Buckingham Palace.
[15:20:12]
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Richard, of course, but we have had some people coming to the Palace before and even after that statement was released by
the U.K. government.
It's a natural reaction really for Brits, when terrible tragedy hits the Royal Family. People want to come to the Windsor Castle, to Buckingham
Palace. They want to pay their respects. They want to be a part of history and to lay floral tributes and we have been seeing that today.
But of course, due to the pandemic and the fact that this country is still in partial lockdown. That is not advised.
Now, a book of condolence has been put online by the Royal Family. It could be accessed on their website. They are asking people to virtually pay their
respects, remember, Prince Philip this way. And all eyes, of course, are on what happens next with the funeral. And of course, it's likely to be very
different to what we had in mind a year or more ago -- Richard.
QUEST: Yes, I mean, first of all, at Windsor Castle, there's going to be no tribute, military tribute through the streets, the coffin -- and the Prince
won't lie -- he wouldn't laid in state anyway, but no official viewing.
STEWART: No, we don't expect to have any sort of procession of the State hearse, which is something you might expect. There'll be no laying in of
state and it won't be a State funeral. But really, that doesn't come as a surprise.
This was a man he didn't like a fuzz, State funerals are generally held for heads of state, the monarch itself. We're expecting more of a ceremonial
funeral, so of the ilk, perhaps of the Queen Mother and Princess Diana. But of course, much, much smaller with lots and lots of restrictions given the
pandemic. How many people will be allowed to attend, how many people can travel to the U.K. for it for instance, I would usually expect to be having
lots of heads of state from Commonwealth nations coming here.
But given current travel restrictions, that will be incredibly difficult.
QUEST: Anna finally, briefly, what do you make of the day? I mean, it's quite difficult to explain to people who are -- you know, the way the
Prince has been part of our lives since the moment we were born, what do you make of it?
STEWART: We had 65 years of service within the Royal Family playing an active role in public duty. He's been, as you say, a part of all of our
lives growing up and it's hard to imagine a Royal Family without him.
The Queen is very much head of state, but Prince Philip was head of the family, until very recently, in the last few years, he perhaps took a bit
of a step back after he retired.
But he was very much the head of that family. He steered them through all sorts of turbulent and challenging times, and he is going to be so fondly
remembered for all of the work he did, particularly with all the charity organizations.
He was patron of over 700, you can imagine all the people he's met over tens of thousands engagements over the years who will remember him,
remember the moment they met Prince Philip who have photos of that memory. He really has touched the lives of millions in the U.K., and of course
around the world and the Commonwealth -- Richard.
QUEST: Anna Stewart who is at Buckingham Palace. Anna, thank you.
Now the relationship between Prince Philip and the Queen is one of the greatest Royal love stories of modern time. Married for more than seven
decades after first meeting as youths in the 1930s, one of the Queen's cousins says he was her rock and was rarely far from her side when it came
to everything from visits abroad to celebrations like the Diamond Jubilee which marked an incredible 60 years on the throne for the Queen.
The Prince himself once said, "The essential ingredient to any marriage is tolerance." Something he said was especially vital when the times get
tough.
A few relationships have ever been so close in the public eye as theirs. Here is CNN's Max Foster.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER (voice-over): It was a love affair that lasted more than seven decades. As Queen Elizabeth celebrated Jubilee after Jubilee and went on to
become the longest serving British monarch in history, Philip was always by her side.
A childhood companion to the Queen, Margaret Rhodes, was a bridesmaid at her wedding, and was in no doubt that it was a marriage based on love.
RHODES: I think she fell in love when she was 13. I mean, god, he was looking. He was sort of a Viking god. He never looked at anybody else ever.
And I think she very truly has been a rock.
FOSTER (voice-over): The couple married in Westminster Abbey on November the 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 ready to have sacrificed 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.
[15:25:10]
RHODES: And so I think it's made for a wonderful solid marriage.
FOSTER (voice-over): The Queen and Prince Phillip met before the Second World War, when he was a young naval cadet.
HARDMAN: 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, it 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): As part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the Queen toured the U.K., and with her the handsome Prince she met as a shy
teenager, the man who was always by her side.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: More or the death of Prince Philip in just a few moments. We'll look back on a remarkable life and one that touched so many others in Britain
and beyond.
This is CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales has paid a visit his mother the Queen after the death of his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Prince -- Prince Philip passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle. He was 99 and two months short of his 100th birthday.
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, "During his lifetime, Prince Philip helped the monarchy to remain a vital part of British life."
(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.
[15:30:13]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: He helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so they -- 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 owes her husband a greater debt than he would ever claim or we
shall ever now. And I'm sure that estimate is correct.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Picking up on the Boris Johnson's words. In many ways, the Prince held the reins of the royal family in more ways than one. He's credited as
being one of the most influential figures in equestrian sports, winning a world championship golf for Britain in 1980. He also served as the
president of the International Equestrian Federation between 1964 and '86.
One historian says he changed the sport altogether helping to raise the bar on a professional level. Ingmar De Vos is the president of the
International Federation for Equestrian Sports joins us from Andhra. The carriage driving and record racing, first of all, and simply just still
carriage driving. I was looking at he continued running. I mean, the driving he continued well into his 90s.
INGMAR DE VOS, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR EQUESTRIAN SPORTS: Yes, he competed at the -- for many, many years. And he was a great
champion in driving. Absolutely. But he was, of course, much more than that. As you mentioned, he has been the longest serving FEI president, 22
years. And he has done that with a lot of passion, passion for Equestrian Sport, passion for the horse.
But with this celebrity and royal title, of course, he got a lot of attention, he brought a lot of attention to our sport and brought also many
people that didn't know our sport beforehand to our sport. So, that was a great promotion as well. But it was much more than that. He was also really
a hands on president.
QUEST: Right. But what did he -- in terms of Equestrian Sports? What do you think he brought to it? Because we've all known of course, excuse me, we
all know the Queen's love of horse racing. And we know her daughter, the Princess Royal, her love of Equestrian events, particularly jumping and
competed in the Olympics. What did he bring?
DE VOS: Well, at that time, he brought order in structures in the rules and regulations. That was a very important part of that. He also brought much
more events into the international calendar. And he worked very hard also to get more championships, more athletes to the sport and promotion in
general.
QUEST: And was it across the range? I mean, for example, Polo, which of course the royal family plays and loves playing through to Equestrian,
through to racing, and right through to carriage driving himself. I heard many quotes from him about courage driving about why he thought it was such
a strong sport or such a useful as well because it required such teamwork of the entire carriage team and the horses.
DE VOS: Well, it's absolutely a team sport. Driving, it's very complicated. It's like eventing, you have three different disciplines. You have the
research, you have the cross-country marathon, we call it in driving, you have also the obstacles. So it's a very complex, a very complete sport. And
I think that really attracted him and attracted a lot of other people to it.
QUEST: Sir, Ingmar De Vos, thank you for joining us. I appreciate. Thank you.
DE VOS: Pleasure.
QUEST: Still to come. An exclusive look at the crisis underway in Myanmar. Our CNN team has visited the country and a military escort. Still managing
to get first-hand accounts about the deadly crackdown on dissent.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:36:37]
QUEST: Myanmar's U.N. envoy was broken with the country's military rulers is begging the Security Council to help stop ongoing atrocities and
criticizing the world lack of action, as Myanmar's regime escalates a deadly crackdown on protesters. The ambassador is calling for all direct
foreign investment to be suspended and no fly zone to be established and sanctions to be imposed until the country's democratically elected
government is restored.
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. They were under military escort every movement carefully controlled. If they still had a chance to see what's really happening on
the ground.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By day, the junta continues its brutal crackdown. Killing prodemocracy protesters
who refuse to submit to military rule. At night, the raids begin, as soldiers round up activists and dragged away the dead. Their bodies,
evidence of the military shoot to kill tactics. Two months after overthrowing Myanmar's Democratically elected government in the 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. From the moment we arrived, our movements are tightly controlled.
(On camera): This gives you a sense of the intense level of security with us. One, two, three, another three over there, six trucks full of soldiers
accompanying our every move.
(Voice-over): At township offices across Yangon, alleged victims of the protest movement due to flee await us. They tell us they have been beaten
and threatened and humiliated by the violators, a pejorative term the military uses for the prodemocracy protesters. In North Okkalapa Township,
the local administrator complains that the demonstrators were noisy and broke the law by gathering in groups of more than five.
(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?
(Voice-over): Our minders are perturbed by the question. It goes unanswered. 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 is a similar story at several burned out factories.
(On camera): 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 all. And the factory owners who we spoken to say they
simply don't know who is responsible.
[15:40:02]
(Voice-over): Sandra's (ph) Chinese-owned garment factory was completely destroyed. She asked we not show her face.
(On camera): Do you have any sense of what you will do now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Waiting for the government giving some helping. Yes.
WARD (on camera): Who is the government right now in Myanmar? Sorry. Is that a hard question?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I don't know.
WARD (voice-over): Every moment of our visit is carefully choreographed. When protesters began 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.
(On camera): Some people from the balcony just flashed three fingers at me. That is the hunger game 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 very dangerous
situation for them.
Voice-over): We passed a small protest rejecting Myanmar's return to more than half a century of oppressive 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.
I saw that you made a sign. Tell me what you mean by making that sign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
WARD (on camera): We don't. You just stand back, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Justice, justice, we want justice.
WARD (on camera): You want justice?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Justice, yes.
WARD (voice-over): Moments later, another man approaches.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not scared.
WARD (voice-over): Not scared.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not weapons. We don't have no weapons. No scared. But every day fighting. Every day just like that, just like this.
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.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want democracy.
WARD (voice-over): This young teacher says she ran to talk to us when she heard the noise. You want democracy?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want democracy. We don't want military coup.
WARD (voice-over): You know, we are surrounded by military, like this guy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't -- I'm not afraid at all. If we are afraid, we people around here would not hit the bang and the pan.
WARD (voice-over): Like many young people, she sees her future being ripped away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't want to go back to the dark age. We lost our voice and we had -- we had democracy only for 10 years. We don't have
weapons. We don't have guns. Just only we have voice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want --
WARD (voice-over): But even words can be punished here.
CROWD: We want democracy!
WARD (voice-over): Not wanting the situation to escalate, we decide to leave the market, as people hunk 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 Nay Pyi Taw,
we finally have the opportunity to confront Myanmar's senior military leadership.
ZAW MIN TUN, MILITARY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): I will tell you the reason why we have to crackdown. The protests were peaceful from
February 1st to the 8th. The reason for the crackdown was because they blocked civil servants. The security forces are giving warnings. 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 (through translator): 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, too. For 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 Qua Min Lah (ph). Going past the 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 is not a cycling
accident. How do you explain this?
[15:45:08]
MIN TUN (through translator): If that kind of thing has occurred, we will have investigation 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 Tan Tun Ang (ph) 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 To Mak Win (ph) also shot dead by your forces?
MIN TUN (through translator): 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 U.N., as of March 31st, 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.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want democracy.
WARD (on camera): I understand. A man just told me, we want democracy, as he walked past, but he was too scared to stop and talk.
(Voice-over): Others are more bold.
UNKNOWN: Please save our country.
WARD (voice-over): Save your country. These people are not activists. They are ordinary citizens and they live in fear of the military.
(On camera): You have goose bumps. You're like shivering.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are not human.
WARD (voice-over): Yes. They are not human. They are desperate for the outside world to know their pain. One girl approaches us, shaking.
(On camera): I feel like you're very nervous. Are you OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes. We are not safe anymore. Even in the night. There are shooters and the shooters shoot the children.
WARD (on camera): I don't want you to get in trouble. I don't want you to get arrested, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Thank you.
WARD (on camera): All right.
(Voice-over): She knows her bravery will certainly be punished. But this is a resistance movement built on small acts of great courage.
QUEST: And dude, that woman was arrested or she was ay from the market as indeed were 10 people arrested for talking to CNN. Thankfully all have been
released after a couple of days. And a lot more of Clarissa's team at cnn.com. Breaking down what Myanmar's military says to justify their brutal
crackdown and whether it matches reality.
As we continue, British politicians will be offering their own remembrances and tributes to Prince Philip after the break. This is CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:50:51]
QUEST: Bells of Westminster Abbey ringing 99 times in honor of Prince Philip. Westminster Parliament says it will pay a turn tribute to the Duke
of Edinburgh in a special session when politicians will honor the Duke on Monday. The House of Commons says it will convene a day earlier than
planned to hold the tribute session. And Britain's political leaders have been paying their respects in tribute.
Perhaps it's the former British Prime Minister John Major who I think put it best. It is impossible to exaggerate the role that the Duke of Edinburgh
played in his lifetime in service to the monarchy and to the United Kingdom. A distinguished naval officer, he was moved over 70 years the
ballast to our Ship of State. Modest to the core hating any kind of fuss or bother, he epitomized the British spirit of remain true to himself to the
very end.
The outpouring of affection and sadness that follows would be both surprised and embarrass him, but it will be real and heartfelt.
Bianca Nobilo is at Windsor tonight. That sums it up I think. The whole thing with Prince Philip. I mean, what are they going to say in Parliament?
There will be a lot of hot air and a sense of tributes. But that heartfelt sort of comment that comes from John Major.
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Parliament will be recalled early as you mentioned, Richard, it was due to come back on the 13th of April, but
they're making an exception. So we'll be hearing from M.P.s on Monday, we heard from the Prime Minister today who in his typical exuberant style,
mentioned the fact that Prince Philip enjoyed driving carriages and that he steered the British monarchy through these turbulent and in some -- at
sometimes triumphant years.
Members of Parliament I think will broadly land on the fact that this is a member of the royal family. This was a member of the royal family who had
such a deep understanding of duty and a devotion to the monarch. That is something which everybody regardless of where they stand on, the molecule
itself can agree on. He has been a tireless supporter of charities. Supporting over 800 organizations as a president or a patron or a member.
He's fulfilled over 22,000 engagements in his royal career. That will be something I would expect to hear, M.P.s of all parties indeed. Hear -- talk
about on Monday, and we've even heard from both leaders of the Parliament in Northern Ireland come out and release a statement in support of the
royal family and in memory of Prince Philip. So, I think that just shows us that regardless of where parties sit on the political spectrum, making a
statement in memory of Prince Philip is definitely something we can expect to hear.
QUEST: But the interesting thing, Bianca, is of course that officially he held no role. I mean, we talked about him as being the Queen's consort. But
he didn't enjoy the same position, for example, as Albert did to Victoria where there was an official role. And yet, this lodestar that he was, this
cornerstone for her majesty just runs right through seven decades.
NOBILO: It does. He might have not had a role as such but his de facto role -- well, his -- and his literal role as patriarch of the royal family was
important beyond measure. He was the Queen's rock throughout all of these years, and as we mentioned, had such an important legacy when it comes to
charity and to lots of issues which were not popular when he first champion them, like the environment and wanting to look after the future of our
planet.
He has in many ways shaped discourse in that respect. And it is impressive when we even consider the fact that he didn't have an official role. This
was a man who -- when he married the queen in 1947 had a glittering career of his own. He was a decorated member of the British Navy and the world was
his oyster in many respects, but he decided despite being something of an alpha male character, to stand by the queen and support her and have his
focus in life, to be -- being by her side and being her support. And from that is where he found the majority of his fulfillment.
[15:55:01]
QUEST: And the one thing I noticed today politicians of all, as you alluded to, in the past, I mean (INAUDIBLE) made a comment about Prince Philip when
he made one of his tasteless comments. But today, none of that. This was -- there was a -- there's unanimity across the political spectrum.
NOBILO: That's what we've seen. And it's because you mentioned the length of his career and the length of his life, two months' shy of his 100th
birthday and the public service that he's committed to throughout that time. Yes, he has had gas. He's a straight talker. He's been to straight
talking for some and made mistakes, and it certainly have a particular era. But nobody can doubt his commitment to his adopted country and the support
of (INAUDIBLE) the Queen.
QUEST: Bianca. Bianca is at Windsor this evening for us. Have a final thought here at the top of the hour before we go. But more in just a
moment. This is CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: There isn't a newsroom anywhere in the world that hasn't been preparing in some shape or form for the passing of Prince Philip. In one
way or another we've all known it was going to come sometime sooner rather than later and had in place plans for when it did. But have taught -- I can
tell you today, now that it has the effect and the thoughts. It really is quite a change and a deep saddening for those of us for whom Prince Philip
has been part of our lives from the day we were born.
Bit like the Queen who's always been there, always been part of the British public life. Those in the Commonwealth where she's head of state or head of
the Commonwealth, once again, the Queen and Prince Philip always there. And so, to hear that finally, Prince Philip has passed and wondering of the
sadness and grief of his wife, the Queen together for more than 70 years. It puts it all into perspective.
Of all the tributes and all the stuff that I've read throughout the course of the day I think it is best summed up by the former British Prime
Minister John Major. He summed it up by saying Prince Philip was the ballast to our ship of state. That's basically it. Always there. Always
steady, always part.
END
