Summary

  • Parliaments across the UK were recalled early to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh

  • Prince Philip died on Friday, aged 99

  • The House of Lords reflected on the duke as a "modernising monarch"

  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised his "commitment to young people", with Labour's Sir Keir Starmer calling him a "rock" for the Queen

  • Memories were also shared in Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd

  1. Royal brothers pay tribute to 'Grandpa' Philippublished at 20:34 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Prince William says the duke was "extraordinary" while Prince Harry says he was the "legend of banter".

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  2. Memories carry themes of service and humourpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Commons

    MPs, peers and politicians returned to parliaments across the UK today to pay tribute to Prince Philip, who died on Friday at the age of 99.

    Many had their own personal memories of the duke, but some themes recurred again and again:

    • The prince's sense of humour and ability to put people who were nervous to meet him at ease
    • His commitment to science, technology and the environment
    • His military service during the Second World War, and his lifelong affiliation with the Armed Forces
    • His role in visiting Northern Ireland and seeking reconciliation
    • The effect of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme on the lives of millions of young people
    • And, above all, his love for and steadfast support of the Queen

    We are bringing today's live page to a close, but you can continue to watch the tributes from the House of Commons on BBC Parliament.

    Thank you for joining us.

  3. Duke's cherished advice to young MPpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Dame Eleanor Laing

    Deputy Commons Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing says she will not share the advice Prince Philip gave her when she was president of the Student Union at Edinburgh University.

    She says she has never shared what he told her, but she has "never forgotten" it.

    He was "kind, charming and absolutely inspiring", she adds.

    "As many people have said [Prince Philip] has made such a difference to the lives of so many young people. I was one of them."

  4. Leadsom: Duke's 'extraordinary commitment to duty'published at 16:59 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom says she met the Duke of Edinburgh on a number of occasions when she was leader of the Commons and Lord President of the Council.

    She recalls a lunch at Windsor Castle when she sat next to the prince and chatted about his role in its restoration after it was damaged in a fire.

    She says the conversation led to a discussion of the planned restoration of the House of Commons and, "in his rather peppery way", he expressed doubt that MPs would "settle themselves down and find a way forward".

    She says these roles gave her a "bird's eye view" of the Queen and Prince Philip's "extraordinary commitment to duty".

  5. Duke championed the environment 'before it was fashionable'published at 16:49 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    The former Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas, says the duke's death is a key moment for the life of the country.

    But, she adds, it is first and foremost a deeply personal moment for the Queen.

    The last year has highlighted the importance of family like never before, she says, and the prince's death will resonate with "many more families up and down the country who are also mourning the loss of loved ones".

    Ms Lucas says the duke was a champion of the environmental movement "long before it was fashionable" and he acknowledged what he called "a moral duty to protect those other species".

    She says she appreciated his impatience for change.

  6. 'A polymath... who did not do political correctness'published at 16:42 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Conservative Sir Bill Cash tells MPs that when he heard of the death of Prince Philip, he walked to his local church and tolled the bell 99 times.

    He describes the prince as "a polymath, a pathfinder with a purpose and a sharp wit" who "did not do political correctness".

    He recalls watching the Queen and Prince Philip's wedding on television in 1947 and says "it was a golden moment after six years of war and austerity."

  7. Peers share anecdotes about meeting Prince Philippublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    As Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip was a member of the House of Lords, and although he didn't speak in debates, there were plenty of peers with personal experiences to relate and stories to tell, from decades of royal events.

    Among the tributes, Archbishop Justin Welby recalled theological cross-examination over Sunday lunch, after preaching a sermon at Sandringham.

    A long list of peers who had taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Scheme described the self-confidence it had given them. Lady Grey-Thompson the Paralympian and Chairman of the UK Awards, said the prince had been delighted to see the positive impact on young offenders.

    There was also deep sympathy for the Queen. Labour’s leader, Baroness Smith, said all public figures needed the support of their partner and he had provided that for decades.

    The former Presiding Officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly said the duke had even been on hand when the Queen shook hands with the former IRA leader Martin McGuinness, a key figure in an organisation which had murdered Lord Mountbatten, who had been a second father to him.

    Lord Janvrin, a former private secretary to the Queen spoke of his key role behind the scenes in the Royal Family “advising, cajoling, reconciling.” History, he said, would judge him kindly.

  8. Prince had 'life-long love for Scotland'published at 16:27 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    The Queen and Prince PhilipImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The Queen and Prince Philip celebrating their silver anniversary in 1972 at Balmoral

    Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross says the prince had "a life-long love for Scotland" developed during his education at Gordonstoun and strengthened through visits to Balmoral.

    He tells MPs that while at the school, the future prince was "universally liked, trusted and respected".

    He says the Duke of Edinburgh will be remembered "above all as the Queen's enduring, loyal and supportive consort".

    "As a nation, we mourn the loss of a great public service," he concludes.

  9. From 'deep loss' to reconciliation in Northern Irelandpublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Former Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa Villiers, says the nation "owes a great debt" to Prince Philip for his military and royal service.

    She tells MPs that she met the duke when he visited Northern Ireland during her tenure, when he was "well into his 90s" but still energetic.

    On one visit, they were at a market that had seen repeated violence, yet he was content to get lost in the crowd.

    The duke suffered "deep personal loss" at the hands of the IRA, who killed his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, she said.

    Yet he played a part in reconciliation in Northern Ireland, meeting Martin McGuiness and later welcoming him at Windsor.

    "For that we should all express our sincere gratitude," says Ms Villiers.

  10. Prince 'famous for his plain-speaking'published at 16:16 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Hilary BennImage source, HoC

    "The Duke of Edinburgh was famous for his plain-speaking," says Labour's Hilary Benn.

    The Labour MP says when the prince discovered that the parliament of Ghana only had 200 members, he quipped: "That's about the right number, we have 650 and most of them are a complete bloody waste of time."

    He notes that Prince Philip had been making public comments for over 70 years.

    "Which one of us would be able to do that for seven decades without saying something we would come to regret," he asks.

  11. Duke of Edinburgh awards 'enriched lives of millions'published at 16:13 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader, Liz Saville-Roberts, says Prince Philip's death resonates with many people in Wales at "this time of great loss".

    She says the duke had a strong connection with Wales and was stationed as an instructor at a naval base there during the Second World War.

    She notes the navy camp became one of Billy Butlins' holiday camps after the war and the Queen and the duke toured it in an open top Land Rover during a later visit.

    She praises the prince's contribution to the promotion of outdoor education for young people and says the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme has enriched the lives of millions.

  12. Prince Charles: 'My family and I miss my father enormously'published at 16:05 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Prince Charles has said his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, "would have been amazed by... the touching things that have been said about him."

    He was speaking from Highgrove House on Saturday, the day after Prince Philip died, aged 99, at Windsor Castle.

  13. 'The world's most experienced plaque opener'published at 16:02 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Yvette CooperImage source, HoC

    Labour's Yvette Cooper says, in his early life, Prince Philip had gone "from royal to refugee to royal once more".

    She praises his ability to keep on working into his 90s and recalls the duke's visit to her own constituency.

    He described himself as "the world's most experience plaque opener", she tells MPs.

    She also recalls her own experience of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, saying: "Our sleeping bags were soggy and it poured all night.

    "But in the morning, the sun shone and we loved it."

  14. Highlights from the Lordspublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    Peers have been paying their respects to Prince Phillip today in the House of Lords.

    Here are some of the highlights from their memories of him:

    • Leader of the House, Baroness Evans, said the duke had told her he liked to believe he could make anyone laugh within 15 seconds, and had been “tickled” to discover she had studied wine-making under his award scheme
    • Labour’s leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith, said there had been no blueprint for the role of royal consort, but perhaps he had written one. She praised his behind the scenes role in modernising the monarchy, for example by pressing for the Queen's coronation in 1953 to be televised, against the objections of the then-Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill
    • The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said preaching a sermon at Sandringham was a rite of passage for newly-appointed bishops, who would arrive on the Saturday to partake of a barbeque cooked by the duke – his was outside, in January – and would then have their sermon dissected by him over Sunday lunch
  15. 'We will miss him' - DUP Westminster leaderpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Sir Jeffrey DonaldsonImage source, HoC

    The DUP's Westminster leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, says Prince Philip took "real pride" in the fact that young people from "all kinds of backgrounds in Northern Ireland" took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

    He says that many young lives were "shaped and influence by that scheme".

    Mr Donaldson also expresses the hope that the Queen will be able to "draw on her faith" as she grieves.

    Of the prince, he says, "as a nation we will miss him, in Northern Ireland we salute his memory".

  16. Baroness Shirley Williams dies at 90published at 15:53 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Media caption,

    Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams gave her last speech in the House of Lords in 2016

    While listening to the tributes to Prince Philip in the Commons, we have just learned of the death of the veteran politician and Lib Dem peer, Baroness Shirley Williams, at the age of 90.

    Originally a Labour MP, the former cabinet minister was part of the "Gang of Four" who quit the party in 1981 to found the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    She was seen as a groundbreaking figure at a time when few women sat in Parliament.

  17. Iain Duncan Smith: 'Outpourings of fondness' remarkablepublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Iain Duncan Smith

    The former Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, says the Duke of Edinburgh brought much distinction to everything that he did.

    He notes that Prince Philip did not shy from speaking his mind, even if this included telling business leaders "to pull their fingers out" and do the right thing.

    He says he didn't expect quite the level of "outpourings of fondness" there had been over the last few days - particularly from the younger generation.

    And he said the duke represents "the passing of the greatest generation that was prepared to sacrifice everything so the rest of us could live in peace and prosperity".

  18. Prince Philip 'far more than a companion'published at 15:40 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Ed DaveyImage source, HoC

    Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, tells MPs about meeting the prince when, as a teenager, he completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

    The prince asked him what skill he had learnt when doing the award.

    "I told him proudly I had learnt to drive and the duke asked 'with four or six horses?'

    "He pretended to be surprised when I said, no sir, a car."

    Sir Ed concludes by telling MPs that the prince was "far more than a companion" and someone who should be celebrated for his "courage, insight and determination to show real leadership on the environment".

  19. MPs' tributes not at all sombrepublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Susan Hulme
    Parliamentary correspondent

    Dressed in black, MPs began by standing with their heads bowed for a minute's silence in memory of Prince Phillip.

    But their tributes to him are not at all sombre.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson - a man who loves words (and has sometimes got into trouble for them) - recalled the Duke admitting to "dontopedalogy" or the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it.

    The SNP leader, Ian Blackford, who was wearing Highland dress, remembered the Duke's love of Balmoral - and his loathing of over-long speeches.

    And the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, recounted taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme when he was 14 - wandering around Dartmoor as part of a small team, trying desperately to find his way.

    "If that doesn't prepare you for politics," he said, "nothing will."

    Well over 100 MPs want to speak in this debate, so it is likely to last well into the evening.

  20. Harman: Prince Philip was 'ahead of his time'published at 15:27 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Harriet Harman

    The Mother of the House, Harriet Harman, says in many ways, Prince Philip was "ahead of his time" - urging people more than five decades ago to recognise the importance of protecting the environment.

    Ms Harman says the duke was also ahead of his time as a husband and in his relationship with the Queen, saying he "sought never to eclipse her, only to support her" at a time when the expectation was that the man would play the leading role.

    Supporting the Queen "took him into uncharted territory and left him exposed", she adds.

    But he was an example of an "even more remarkable man" who choose to support a woman leader, rather than take the main role himself.