Prince Harry praises his Prince Phillip for his wit and his devotion to ‘granny’
Prince Harry praised his grandfather Prince Philip for his devotion to “granny” Queen Elizabeth, describing the late duke as a mischievous host who could captivate his guests with unpredictable remarks.
Husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip has been by her side throughout her 69-year reign. He passed away on Friday at Windsor Castle at the age of 99.
Philip’s sense of humor and dedication to his duty may have earned him widespread popularity in Britain, it also earned him some criticism, especially with foreign diplomats. He was often criticized for off-the-cuff comments, some of them racist, which shocked princes, priests and presidents.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson in parliament had referenced some of Philip’s more controversial remarks, including those about cannibalism in Papua New Guinea and the murder of half his family by the Russians.
“It is true that he occasionally drove a coach and horses through the finer points of diplomatic protocol, and he coined a new word – dontopedalogy – for the experience of putting your foot in your mouth,” Johnson has said, “But the world did not hold it against him,” Johnson added. “They overwhelmingly understood that he was trying to break the ice, to get things moving, to get people laughing and forget their nerves.”
Meanwhile, Harry, who returned to the United Kingdom from Los Angeles for Philip’s Saturday funeral, said in a statement, “Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself.”
“He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm and also because you never knew what he might say next,” said Harry.
