Prince Philip Mountbatten Dies, Prince Andrew: We Lost Our Great Grandfather

Prince Philip Mountbatten. (Wikimedia Commons/Steve Punter)

JAKARTA - The death of Prince Philip Mountbatten brings deep sorrow to the British Royal family, as well as the British people in general.

The role and gait of Prince Philip are also strongly felt by the British public, He has also been considered as the grandfather of the nation, not just the grandfather to his grandchildren in the kingdom.

The third child, who is also Prince Philip's second son with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, said prince Philip's death left a huge void for the mother, who for 73 years had always been accompanied by Prince Philip.

Prince Andrew has described Prince Philip as an 'amazing man', after he left a private service in Windsor, where his father died on Friday last week at the age of 99.

"It's a big loss. I think the way I say it is that we have lost the grandfather of the nation," Prince Andrew said, as reported by Reuters Monday, April 12.

Prince Andrew said his extended family had rallied around the stoic Queen Elizabeth in the face of the loss, despite leaving a huge void after being together for 73 years.

Prince Andrew has rarely been seen in public since he resigned from his official duties in 2019, due to controversy surrounding his relationship with the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile, prayers were offered for Prince Philip at a private service at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park, west London, echoing church services across the country. Services and prayers were also held at Canterbury Cathedral, led directly by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As part of eight days of national mourning, people gathered outside Windsor Castle and other royal palaces to leave flowers, while religious and political leaders expressed support for the queen, the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch.