Well known for his quick wit and penchant for cheeky jokes, the late Prince Philip had one final quip for son King Charles shortly before his death in April 2021
The late Prince Philip is perhaps best remembered for his quick wit – both by the public and loved ones.
And it would appear the Duke of Edinburgh retained his sense of humour right to the end, making one last joke during his final conversation with his eldest son, King Charles III.
Prince Philip passed away on April 9, 2021, at the grand age of 99, just one year before the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He spent his final peaceful days at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, where he couldn’t resist winding family members up even as the end drew near.
The longest-serving royal consort in British history, the Royal Family had been looking forward to his landmark 100th birthday. The prince narrowly missed out on this momentous milestone, but King Charles has fond memories of discussing the party plans with him, mere hours before his death.
In the BBC documentary Prince Philip: The Family Remembers, King Charles opened up about the poignant final phone conversation he had with his father, shedding light on his famously mischievous personality. During the call, Charles informed his elderly father that they’d been discussing his 100th birthday and how to celebrate it. Knowing that Philip wasn’t too keen on the idea of a party, he broached the subject with some tentativeness.
Charles was also aware that Philip was slightly hard of hearing, and so repeated himself a little louder, emphasising: “We’re talking about your birthday! And whether there’s going to be a reception!” Quick as a whip, sharp-tongued Philip replied: “Well, I’ve got to be alive for it, haven’t I?” Clarifying that this was a happy memory, despite the painful time that followed, Charles recalled: “I told him ‘I knew you’d say that!'”.
The documentary in question had been initially filmed in anticipation of Philip’s 100th birthday. Sadly, it was instead released to mark his passing, filled with fond memories from those who who him best. In one humorous segment, Prince William revealed how his grandfather would prank family members by getting them to hold a tube of mustard before removing the lid, creating an almighty mess that annoyed the late Queen no end.
Offering a bit of personal insight into family life behind the palace walls, William remembered: “He would squish your hands together to fire the mustard up into the ceiling. He used to get into a lot of trouble with my grandmother for covering most of the places where we had lunch with mustard.”
In the years since Prince Philip’s death, King Charles has made sure to fulfill one of his parents’ promises by giving his youngest brother, Prince Edward, the title of Duke of Edinburgh – previously held by their father. This change in title means Edward’s wife Sophie is now referred to as the Duchess of Edinburgh.
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