HRH Prince Philip passed away two year ago

Two years have passed since His Royal Highness the Prince Philip died on Friday 9^th April 2021 at Windsor Castle. Prince Philip was aged 99 years old, he retired from Royal Official Public Duties in 2017 and had health concerns during his final years.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip married in November 1947, five years before her Majesty became Queen. The Royal Couple have been married for over 73 years. Prince Philip had made "a huge contribution to the success of the Queen's reign", describing the duke as "utterly loyal in his belief in the importance of the role that the Queen was fulfilling - and in his duty to support her". "It was the importance of the solidity of that relationship, of their marriage, that was so crucial to the success of her reign,” he added.

The Duke of Edinburgh joined Britannia in 1954 on the world tour and visited Australia, where he opened the Olympic Games in Melbourne. This was one of many world tours during Prince Philip’s busy public life.

In the 1970s, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip visited Norfolk Island. This was the first visit to Norfolk Island by a reigning Monarch. 11^th February 1974 must have been very exciting, the community would have enjoyed the visit of the Royal family and the Royal yacht Britannia anchored in Sydney Bay would have been a wonderful sight. I have found a photo of the Royal visitors standing on the Queen Elizabeth II Lookout, above Kingston.

The Norfolk Island community gathered two years ago, after the passing of HRH Prince Philip, on the 17 April 2021. At this special gathering, flowers and wreaths were laid for His Majesty which was held at the Prince Philip memorial lookout on Prince Philip Drive. The memorial is on the other side of Norfolk Island, above Cascade Bay, is another important stone monument with a plaque, “Prince Philip Drive”. This is a quiet area of Norfolk Island, the steep dirt road winds up the hill sides, with stunning ocean views and wonderful old trees.

It was interesting to see the road sign is spelt “Prince Phillip Drive”, instead of Philip with one “L”. I read on Wikipedia that there is only one other road in the world named after the Duke of Edinburgh, this is “Newfoundland and Labrador: Prince Philip Drive, St. John's”.

Prince Philip was also the Patron for the Norfolk Island Flora & Fauna Society. It is significant that his retirement happens to be on the society’s 50^th anniversary. A Commemorative seat for the F&F anniversary is at 100 Acres coastal walk, near the cliff edge along the walking tracks. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip was a patron, president, or a member of more than 780 organisations.

Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born on the island of Corfu on the 10 June 1921 to Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenburg. The Duke of Edinburgh would have turned 100 years old in 2021, and he was the longest-serving royal consort in British history, was at the Queen's side for more than her six decades of reign.

In 2022 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, including here on Norfolk Island. The Norfolk Island community held celebrations in June 2022, to mark the special occasion. Sadly, we also commemorated the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on 9 September 2023 and the Royal Crown was passed onto their son, Prince Charles as his Royal Highness was proclaimed as the ruling monarch. Next month on 6 May 2023, will be the Royal Coronation of King Charles III.

A friend shared an old photograph of HRH Prince Philip official unveiling of the stone plaque on Prince Philip Drive.

“Historical picture from Annie Kenny showing her Aunt and Prince Philip at the opening ceremony”.

Here are a few photographs I took l two years ago at the Commemorative Service for HRH Prince Philip in April 2021, plus images of the Royal couple on Norfolk Island

Betty Matthews

April 2023