LONDON (AP) – Military teams in the UK and on ships at sea fired 41 gun salutes on Saturday to mark the death of Prince Philip, in honor of the former naval officer and husband of Queen Elizabeth II whom they considered one of them.
Batteries in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast – the capitals of the four countries that make up the UK – as well as other cities in the UK and the Mediterranean outpost of Gibraltar fired the bursts at one-minute intervals starting mid-day. . Ships including HMS Montrose, a frigate patrolling the Persian Gulf, offered their own gun salutes.
Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, died at Windsor Castle on Friday, two months before his 100th birthday.
“The Duke of Edinburgh served among us during World War II, and he remained committed to the Royal Navy and the armed forces as a whole,” said General Nick Carter, chief of defense staff, in a statement. “A life well lived. His Royal Highness leaves us a legacy of indomitable spirit, steadfastness and an unshakable sense of duty. “
Members of the Commonwealth, a group of 54 nations led by the monarch, were also invited to honor Philip. The Australian Defense Force began its salute outside Parliament House in Canberra at 5:00 p.m. local time, and New Zealand planned to pay its own tribute on Sunday.
Philip joined the Royal Navy in 1939 as a cadet and once had a promising military career. In 1941 he was honored for his service at the Battle of Cape Matapan off the coast of Greece, when his control of the searchlights aboard HMS Valiant allowed the battleship to locate enemy ships in the dark. Philip rose to the rank of commander before retiring from active duty.
Two years after the war ended, Philip married Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey when she was 21 and he was 26. Philip’s naval career came to an abrupt end when King George VI died in 1952 and his wife became queen.
At the Queen’s coronation in 1953, Philip swore to be his wife’s “feudal lord” and settled in a life that sustained the monarch. The couple had four children – Charles, the heir apparent, Anne, Andrew and Edward.
Before retiring in 2017, the prince carried out more than 22,000 solo public assignments and supported more than 780 organizations, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Youth Award.
Members of the public continued to honor Philip’s service life on Saturday, leaving flowers at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, despite calls from authorities and the Royal Family not to gather due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think everyone wants to pay their respects,” said Maureen Field, 67, outside Windsor Castle. “Many people have to stay away because of the virus. He didn’t want a big funeral. He wanted a very personal time with his family to say goodbye. So we all have to respect that. “
Mike Williams, 50, traveled from his home in Surrey, southwest London, to Buckingham Palace to honor the Prince.
“He’s a huge loss to the country and the world, I think, so we wanted to come and respect him,” said Williams. “I don’t know what it accomplished, but it just felt like the right thing to do.”
Associated Press Writer James Brooks and Tom Rayner contributed.
For AP’s full coverage of Prince Philip’s death, visit https://apnews.com/hub/prince-philip