Prince Charles Reacts To Prince Philip's Death

It was a sad day for those who love the monarchy when on April 9, 2021, the British royal family announced that Queen Elizabeth's husband and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, had died at 99.

The death of Philip, who had been married to the queen for 73 years and was the father of four children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, came after the senior royal had spent a month in London's King Edward VII Hospital. He was first admitted in February 2021 because he "had been feeling unwell," according to the BBC. The outlet also revealed that Philip had "under[gone] a successful procedure," which had to do with "a pre-existing heart condition." The royal then returned to Windsor Castle, where he later "passed away peacefully," per the family's official website.

Following the news of Philip's death, his son, Prince Charles, released a statement about his father, making it clear how much the older royal was admired by his family. Here's what he had to say.

Following the death of Prince Philip, Prince Charles released a video statement via Twitter on April 10, 2021. "As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously," the Prince of Wales said. "He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow." 

He continued, "My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you." 

Judging by Charles' message about Philip's death, it seems like the younger royal truly admired his father. However, the two reportedly had a rocky relationship at times. "Prince Philip is bluff, outspoken, hearty, tough and something of a bully," royal expert, Penny Junor claimed in Tim Clayton's book, Diana: Story of a Princess (via Cheatsheet). "He has no patience with his eldest son's soul-searching. Sensitivity is not one of the qualities he expects in a man." But even if the bond was at times complicated, it's clear Charles remembers his father fondly.