Friday 09 April 2021
It is with great sadness that this announcement is made. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor has received official notification from Buckingham Palace of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The official notification reads:
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.
Further announcements will be made in due course.
The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."
An official condolence message has been sent on behalf of the Bailiwick of Guernsey by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor.
The condolence message from the Bailiwick reads:
WE, THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR AND THE BAILIFF OF GUERNSEY, THE ROYAL COURT AND THE STATES OF GUERNSEY, THE PRESIDENT AND THE STATES OF ALDERNEY, THE SEIGNEUR AND THE CHIEF PLEAS OF SARK, AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS BAILIWICK WITH HUMBLE DUTY BEG LEAVE TO OFFER TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, AND HER FAMILY, OUR RESPECTFUL AND SINCEREST SYMPATHY ON THE DEATH OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE PHILIP, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WHOSE LONG LIFE REPRESENTED THE EPITOME OF LOYALTY, COMMITMENT, SERVICE AND GOOD HUMOUR, AND STANDS AS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS WILL BE REMEMBERED WITH GREAT AFFECTION ACROSS OUR ISLANDS, WHICH HE VISITED ON SIX MEMORABLE OCCASIONS.
Arrangements are being made to mark the passing of His Royal Highness. Information about the various arrangements will be made public as soon as possible.
His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, said:
"From distinguished wartime service through more than 70 years of unstinting support to the Monarchy, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip has been the embodiment of the highest levels of loyalty and commitment. His long life spanned an era of exponential change, which he embraced with great energy and foresight. His Royal Highness was tireless in his work to protect and enhance the reputation of both the Crown and the Royal Family throughout the world and for this, as a Crown Dependency, we are particularly indebted to him. There is an immense sense of loss at his passing."
The Bailiff, Richard McMahon, said:
"I was saddened to learn of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
In Guernsey, many will recall the six visits that the island was honoured to receive from His Royal Highness (accompanying Her Majesty The Queen).
His first visit was in 1949 when the new Princess Elizabeth Hospital was opened. He returned with Her Majesty in 1957. They returned in 1978 and 1989 on H.M. Yacht Britannia. They came again in 2001 and for the last time in 2005 for the 60th anniversary of the Liberation. On several of those occasions they also visited Alderney and Sark.
Many people in the Bailiwick will have had the privilege of seeing or meeting His Royal Highness in person on his visits to Guernsey or elsewhere and will be able to treasure happy memories of the occasion. Others will have been involved with one of the numerous organizations which had Prince Philip as their Patron.
The visits also confirmed the affection which the people of Guernsey have for The Queen and the Royal Family and how we value our special constitutional position."
The President, Policy & Resources Committee, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, said:
"The people of Guernsey had great respect and affection for Prince Philip which went beyond acknowledging our connection as a dependency of the Crown. More than sixty years ago he created and established the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme (DofE), which has helped countless young people on their journey to adulthood. Indeed many people in Guernsey have been inspired to help their community and have benefited from the confidence, skills and leadership qualities developed during their participation in the DofE. Through the DofE and his own example of dedicated public duty, Prince Philip leaves a lasting legacy of transforming lives and communities across the British Isles and worldwide."
