In a matter of days, Prince Philip will mark an incredible milestone: his 99th birthday.
The Duke of Edinburgh is currently living at Windsor Castle, where he's been in self-isolation with Queen Elizabeth since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK in March.
While June 10 holds little chance of an in-person birthday celebration with his extended family, thanks to the current gathering and social distancing rules, there's no doubt Philip's eight grandchildren will be sending their wishes (perhaps via video call).
While we, the public, only really see the Duke in his official capacity, but his grandsons and granddaughters have borne witness to his gruff-yet-loving side behind the scenes throughout the years.
"The Duke is very close to all of his grandchildren ... They all adore him and love his sense of humour and positive outlook on life," former royal reporter Philip Dampier told Harper's Bazaar in 2018.
Here are the royal remarks and anecdotes that paint a picture of Prince Philip as 'Grandpa'.
'Legend'
Prince William and Prince Harry are believed to be particularly close with their grandfather.
That fondness was reflected in a succinct remark William made to actor Matt Smith, who played Philip in The Crown's first two seasons.
While preparing for the role, Smith bumped into the Duke of Cambridge at a charity polo match, seizing the chance to ask if he had any advice on playing his grandfather. "Just one word — legend!" William shot back.
LISTEN: 9Honey's royal podcast The Windsors takes a look at Prince Philip's royal life and how he made his impact on the monarchy. (Post continues.)
'He's the rock for all of us'
Princess Eugenie has also spoken glowingly of her 'Grandpa', describing Philip as "incredible" in the documentary The Queen at Ninety.
"He really is strong and consistent. He's been there for all these years, and I think he's the rock, you know, for all of us," she said.
Eugenie has also spoken about her grandparents' bond to one another, telling Sky News in 2012: "Together, they are invincible. They are the most incredibly supportive couple to each other."
'It is always nice to pop around'
Even royal grandchildren relish the chance to "pop in" for a cuppa with their grandparents, as Harry revealed in a 2012 interview with Katie Couric.
That said, there is a slight difference... prior to Prince Philip's retirement in 2017, royal duty often got in the way of these catch-ups.
"The grandparents never seem to be in the same place as us," Harry told the US TV journalist.
"If they're around and we're in close proximity it is always nice to pop around."
'Deeply committed'
Though Philip is now retired, his grandchildren have shared their admiration of his work ethic over the years.
In a speech he made at the Charity Commission Annual Public Meeting in 2018, Prince William was full of praise for the Duke of Edinburgh.
"My grandfather Prince Philip has been one of the most tireless public servants of this country, deeply committed to helping young people fulfil their potential," he said.
Peter Philips, the eldest of the Queen and Prince Philip's grandchildren, shared a similar sentiment in a 2013 interview.
"What they do at their age — they do a lot more than most other pensioners of their equivalent age!" he said of the royal couple.
'If I walk, will you walk with me?'
In her book The Diana Chronicles, journalist Tina Brown revealed the royal family's commitment to caring for and protecting William and Harry in the days after their mother Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in 1997.
With the two princes staying at the Balmoral estate, where the Queen and Philip spend the summer months each year, the Duke's "gruff tenderness" was key at this tragic time in their lives.
"A member of the Balmoral staff noted that Prince Philip, who had effectively lost his own mother at the age of 10 when she was committed for three years to an asylum in Switzerland, was brilliantly effective with his grandsons, offering them gruff tenderness and outdoor activities like stalking and hiking to tire them out," Brown wrote.
The Duke also supported his grandsons through the harrowing experience of walking behind their mother's coffin during her funeral procession, something William initially refused to do.
According to Brown, Philip believed William would regret the decision not to walk in the procession, so made him an offer: "If I walk, will you walk with me?"
As they walked along the route, the Duke quietly spoke to William and Harry about each of the historic London landmarks they passed along the way, in a gentle effort to "keep [them] from breaking down."
In photos: Prince Philip through the years
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vaG9uZXkubmluZS5jb20uYXUvcm95YWxzL3ByaW5jZS1waGlsaXAtYXMtYS1ncmFuZGZhdGhlci82OGFkOTFmZC1iNWE4LTQxZTUtYjAxZS1kMmQwOWUzOTM5MDXSAURodHRwczovL2FtcC5uaW5lLmNvbS5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzY4YWQ5MWZkLWI1YTgtNDFlNS1iMDFlLWQyZDA5ZTM5MzkwNQ?oc=5
2020-06-06 22:37:33Z
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