And now to cut and paste some facts about the Duke of Edinburgh who retired today:
96 years old
70 years as Queen’s companion
22,219 solo engagements since 1952
5,496 speeches given
785 organisations have him as patron, president or member
4 million people have taken part in Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Now, whether you are an ardent royalist or not, you have to say that our Phil has served his country with great distinction and mostly with great dignity. I note that in her message tonight, prime minister Theresa May wishes Phil a “happy retirement”, as opposed to the usual “long and happy retirement”. To be fair, she couldn’t say anything else. And I agree with her.
Many say that the royals lead by example and there is something in that. They have jobs to do, many of which must be mind-numbingly dull, and they do them generally with good humour. It is simply not possible that Phil is going to be interested in everyone he meets but it’s his job to pretend to be. Perhaps that’s why he is famous for dropping so many clangers in his public speaking?
Born just down the road from Corfu airport (I don’t think the airport was there when the old boy turned up), he, like all royals, has led a bizarre life, his role being his wife’s companion. God knows the royals have had enough crises over the years but Phil, like his missus, has been a constant.
So many royals live into old age and a cynic might suggest it’s because they never have to work like every man and woman. There might be something in that, but as someone who is much younger than the Duke (honest!) who creaks when he gets out of bed, I have huge respect for a bloke who has travelled the world extensively into his nineties. At his final public engagement today, he seemed as cheery as ever, raising his bowler hat to the royal marines who surrounded him, looking exactly the same as he has looked all his life.
Even Comrade Corbyn wished Phil “all the best in his well-earned retirement” and, for once, I agreed with him on something. Thanks for all you’ve done, Phil. If we’ve got to have a royal family, we might as well have one that royals properly!
