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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Danya Bazaraa

Royal Family in emotional tribute to Prince Philip one year after his death

The Royal Family has paid emotional tribute to Prince Philip one year after his death on Instagram.

A poem, The Patriarchs – An Elegy, by poet Laureate Simon Armitage was shared on the official Royal Family Instagram account.

Their caption read: "Remembering His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the first anniversary of his death.

"Find out more about his life and legacy via our link in bio."

A line from the poem reads: "On such an occasion to presume to eulogise one man is to pipe up for a whole generation - that crew whose survival was always the stuff of minor miracle, who came ashore in orange-crate coracles, fought ingenious wars, finagled triumphs at sea with flaming decoy boats, and side-stepped torpedoes."

The Royal Family's Instagram post (theroyalfamily/Instagram)

Exactly one year ago today, just after noon, it was announced that Prince Philip had died peacefully in his sleep at his Windsor Castle home.

His death was just a few months short of his 100th birthday.

Prince Philip's funeral took place on April 17, 2021 a week after he died. The service was attended by a limited number of people due to Covid restrictions.

He was privately interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. But this will not be his final resting place.

Prince Philip died one year ago today (Getty Images)

When the Queen dies, Prince Philip’s body will be moved from the Royal Vault to the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which is also at St George's, where the couple will be laid to rest together. The Chapel itself is open to visit from the public.

The Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest in a lead-lined English oak coffin, which was made for him over 30 years ago.

A memorial service was held last month to honour Prince Philip.

The royals at the service (REUTERS)

Among those attending were The Queen, Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte were also present in honour of their great-grandfather - the first time they have attended a major public church service.

The Queen looked emotional and teary as she paid her final respects to her beloved husband Prince Philip at his memorial service on March 29.

The Dean of Westminster delivered a moving speech about the Duke of Edinburgh, telling the 1,800-strong congregation: "He would hate to think that I should paint a picture of him as a ‘plaster saint’; someone without the usual human foibles and failings.

"He was far too self-aware ever to be taken in by flattery. Of course, it must be said that his life bore the marks of sacrifice and service.

The Queen with Prince Andrew arriving for the Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"Certainly, he could show great sympathy and kindness.

"There is no doubt that he had a delightfully engaging, and often self-deprecating, sense of humour. It is quite clear that his mind held together both speculation and common sense. Moreover, nobody would ever doubt his loyalty and deep devotion to our Queen and to their family.

"Yet, there were times when he could be abrupt; maybe, in robust conversation, forgetting just how intimidating he could be.

"A kind of natural reserve sometimes made him seem a little distant. He could be somewhat sharp in pricking what he thought to be bubbles of pomposity or sycophancy.

"On the other hand, we should not forget that he himself was sometimes wounded by being unfairly criticised or misunderstood.

"Like the rest of us, he was part of flawed humanity. Unlike most of us however, he was one of those rare people who remained true to, and guided by, what you might call ‘an inner spiritual compass’; a sense of being called to play a part in the making of a God-intended world.

"As we give thanks for the life of a remarkable man, perhaps out greatest tribute to him, most especially in these far too troubled times, will be for us to accept the challenge, implicit in his life, to rekindle in our hearts something of that call, and to pray (as I think he did) for the inspiration and the guidance to play our part, however small, in working for a kinder future."

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