Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years, has died at age 99. Buckingham Palace confirmed his death in a statement Friday: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”
Prince Philip had been hospitalized earlier this year, and underwent surgery for a pre-existing heart condition in March. He left the hospital March 16 and had been recuperating Windsor Castle. At 99, Prince Philip was the oldest ever male member of the British royal family.
Philip lived his early years in Greece having been born to both the Greek and Danish royal families. He was educated in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom before he joined the British Royal Navy in 1939, at age 18. Having gained permission from Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, the engagement of Philip and Elizabeth was announced in July 1947. Philip and Elizabeth were married on Nov. 20, 1947. Philip abandoned his Greek and Danish titles and became a naturalized British subject, and was granted the style His Royal Highness and created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King George VI.
Philip is survived by the queen and their four children Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; eight grandchildren Prince William; Prince Harry; Princess Beatrice; Princess Eugenie; Zara Tindall; Peter Phillips; Lady Louise Windsor; and James, Viscount Severn, and nine great-grandchildren.
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