Prince Philip, A True Jewel In The Crown Of Our Country

In its scale and solemnity, the outpouring of grief at the death of Prince Philip represents a heartfelt national tribute to this extraordinary figure. The expressions of sorrow reflect profound gratitude for his long life of unstinting service, his steadfast devotion to the Queen, his wartime bravery and his charismatic personality.

- Leo McKinstry

Before he married in 1947, some snobbish peers privately muttered that he was “no gentleman” because of his unorthodox background as an exiled member of the deposed Greek Royal Family. Yet over the subsequent decades he proved himself the epitome of chivalry.

Today’s sadness again highlights the cherished central role that the Crown plays in our British way of life. The mourning and reverence are bound up with our monarchical system of governance whose roots reinforce our sense of identity and continuity with our past. It is inconceivable that there would be such a wave of emotion if Britain were a republic and the spouse of the president had just died.

The painful feeling of loss at the Prince’s passing is also an indicator of how successful the monarchy has been under Queen Elizabeth II. In our age of advanced democracy and noisy social media, the existence of the Crown, based on the hereditary principle, might seem an anachronism.

BUT whatever its theoretical flaws, it works in practice. Over the centuries it has gradually evolved into a highly effective, extremely popular means of constitutional rule that provides unity, protects liberty and promotes stability.