The death of the Duke of Edinburgh has elicited tributes, remembrances and expressions of sympathy from political leaders and royal families around the world, recalling his many years of service, his “straightforwardness” and his long devotion to his wife and a variety of social causes.
In the US, President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, offered their deepest condolences to the Queen, the royal family and the people of the UK.
“The impact of his decades of devoted public service is evident in the worthy causes he lifted up as patron, in the environmental efforts he championed, in the members of the armed forces that he supported, in the young people he inspired, and so much more,” they said in a statement.
“His legacy will live on not only through his family, but in all the charitable endeavours he shaped.”
Barack Obama said in an extended tribute on Instagram that the Queen and Prince Philip had immediately put him and his wife Michelle at ease when they met at Buckingham Palace. “Prince Philip in particular was kind and warm, with a sharp wit and unfailing good humor,” he wrote. “It was our first introduction to the man behind the title, and in the years since, our admiration for him has only grown. We will miss him dearly.”
Donald Trump also shared his memories, saying the duke had “defined British dignity and grace. He personified the quiet reserve, stern fortitude, and unbending integrity of the United Kingdom.”
One of the first world leaders to pay tribute was the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, who said Prince Philip “embodied a generation that we will never see again”.
“Australians send our love and deepest condolences to her majesty and all the royal family,” he said. “The Commonwealth family joins together in sorrow and thanksgiving for the loss and life of Prince Philip. God bless from all here in Australia.”
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said Philip would be “fondly remembered for the encouragement he gave to so many young New Zealanders through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary award” and the challenges if had offered thousands of young people.
In Canada, the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, described Philip as “a man of great purpose and conviction, who was motivated by a sense of duty to others”, and a lifelong companion to the Queen, “always at her side offering unfailing support as she carried out her duties”.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, remembered Philip’s “distinguished career in the military” and “many community service initiatives”.
Ireland’s prime minister, Micheál Martin, offered “thoughts and prayers” to the Queen and the people of the UK, while the foreign minister, Simon Coveney, tweeted: “I want to express sincere condolences to all British people on the sad passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts and solidarity are with you on a very sad day for the United Kingdom.”
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said Philip’s “friendship with Germany, his straightforwardness and sense of duty” would never be forgotten.
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said: “I wish to express my sincere condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Royal Family and the British people upon the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip who lived an exemplary life defined by bravery, a sense of duty and commitment to the youth and the environment.”
The Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, expressed his condolences, describing Prince Philip as a figure who “for over seventy years offered his service to the Crown and the United Kingdom with exemplary dedication”.
King Harald of Norway offered his condolences, as did King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who said: “Prince Philip has been a great friend of our family for many years, a relation which we have deeply valued. His service to his country will remain an inspiration to us all.”
The Belgian royal palace said it was “deeply saddened” by the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, tweeting a tribute along with photos of the family with Philip. “We wish to express our deepest condolences to Her Majesty the Queen, the British royal family and the people of the United Kingdom,” it said in a tweet signed by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission, said: “I would like to extend my sincere sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen, the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom on this very sad day.”
Vladimir Putin also offered his condolences to the Queen, according to the Kremlin press service. It said the Russian president had noted that Philip was “tied to many important events in the recent history of your country” and was “rightly respected among the British public and bore international authority”.
The Russian embassy in London pointed out that Philip was “the great-great-grandson of Russian emperor Nicholas I” and would be mourned by many Russians.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, offered his condolences to the royal family, calling Philip’s death an “irreparable loss for the Ukrainian people”.
As the tributes continued, some international media began to reflect on the duke’s life and legacy. A report on the website of the Spain’s Catholic Cope radio station was headlined: “Philip of Edinburgh, the ‘overly honest’ man who lived in the shadow of Elizabeth II.”
Le Monde had a similar piece, asking: “What was the role of Queen Elizabeth’s husband”?
