Bishop of Winchester leads local tributes to Prince Philip

The Right Reverend Dr Tim Dakin said: “Today we have lost a great statesman and a beloved member of our Royal Family. The Duke of Edinburgh will be remembered for his loyalty to his Queen and country.

“As the senior Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Prince Philip led others in exemplifying everything the Garter stood for in terms of outstanding service to the nation. This is a great loss for the country, for the whole Commonwealth, and above all for Her Majesty and the Royal Family; my thoughts and prayers are with them all.”

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq said: “We have learned with great sorrow and profound grief, of the sad news of the death of His Royal Highness, which will be felt keenly across the nation and beyond.

“On behalf of the people of Hampshire, we will be writing to Her Majesty The Queen, to express our deepest sympathy, and our humble and heartfelt condolence for the loss that Her Majesty and the Royal Family are experiencing at this time.”

At the Hampshire headquarters of the Hampshire Lieutenancy and Hampshire County Council in Winchester, flags have been lowered to half-mast.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Keith Mans, said: “Hampshire County Council extends our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family following the very sad news of the death of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

“It comes at a time when the nation continues to come to terms with the profound ongoing grief from the loss of loved ones to pandemic, and our thoughts and prayers now go out to Her Majesty, The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family in sincere condolence.

“Our county has great pride in its royal associations, with a strong history of connections to the monarchy. Over the years, Hampshire has had the privilege of welcoming His Royal Highness, on many visits to our county, and we now remember with warmth and fondness these treasured memories.”

The Duke of Edinburgh sharing a joke with General Sir Mike Jackson at the General's Corps Museum in Winchester in 2003

The Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Chairman of Hampshire County Council, and County Council Leader will lay flowers outside Winchester’s Great Hall at midday on Saturday, April 10.  

Winchester City Council leader Lucille Thompson said: “It is with great sadness that I heard the news that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has died.  Prince Philip has dedicated his life to our country and we are all immensely grateful to him for his service over so many years.  My thoughts are with the Queen and members of the Royal Family at this time.”