Harry remembered Philip as “my grandfather: barbecue master, banter legend, and cheeky right-to-end.” LONDON-Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, hailed Monday’s hard work, character, and sense of humor in separate statements.
Both admired Philip’s lifetime service to the UK and his wife, Queen Elizabeth II. William said his grandfather wanted the royal family to “do the work.”
Harry remembered Philip as “my grandfather: barbecue master, banter legend, and cheeky right-to-end.”
Philip died on his 100th birthday on Friday.
“The century of my grandfather’s life was characterised by service—his nation and the Commonwealth, his wife and queen, and our family,” William said.
William, second in line to the British throne, also said he’ll always be thankful that his grandmother, Kate, had so many years to get to know his grandfather.
In a statement released half an hour later, Harry also recalled their grandfather, saying he was “authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and because of his charisma, could keep any room’s attention—and because you never knew what he would say next.”
Philip was noted for his speech and sometimes offensive remarks, some of which were considered racist or insensitive.
“Meghan, Archie, and I (and your future great-granddaughter) will always have a special place for you in our hearts,” added Harry, reportedly in the UK.
Harry’s return to Britain will be closely watched following an interview with the media mogul Oprah Winfrey, which caused the British monarchy’s biggest crisis in decades.
Their remarks exposed a raft of claims about their lives before and after splitting with the royal family, sparking bigotry charges within the royal family. William publicly denied the royal family racism after the interview.
Harry and Meghan moved to the U.S. after leaving royal duties last year.
Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, will not attend Philip’s funeral scheduled for Saturday after her doctor advised her not to fly, officials at Buckingham Palace say.
Rumors of a Harry-William split emerged in summer 2019. In June that year, Harry and Meghan announced their separation from William and Kate’s Royal Foundation charity to launch their own project, Sussex Royal.
In last month’s interview with Winfrey, Harry said at the moment his relationship with his brother was “space,” but he hoped “time cures everything.”
Former British Prime Minister John Major said Sunday that Philip’s funeral and mutual sorrow was an “ideal opportunity” to remedy any rifts between the royal family and Harry.
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