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The Duke of Edinburgh has said he will be ‘forever grateful’ for the ‘outpouring’ of comfort and support the royal family experienced after the death of the late Queen.
Prince Edward, 60, opened up about the death of Queen Elizabeth II while deputising for his brother King Charles as Lord High Commissioner at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Saturday.
Welcoming the newly elected Moderator, Reverend Dr Shaw James Paterson, the duke spoke of the support he received following the death of his mother from royal chaplains.
The father-of-two also confessed that the death of his father Prince Philip just the previous year made his mother’s passing ‘far more emotional’.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, bringing an end to a 70-year reign and sparking tributes and memorials across the country, including in Scotland’s capital.
The Duke of Edinburgh has said he will be ‘forever grateful’ for the ‘outpouring’ of comfort and support the royal family experienced after the death of the late Queen
Edward, flanked by new First Minister John Swinney and Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said he was ‘really touched and comforted’ by how chaplains helped the royal family
‘For my own part, I just want to pay personal tribute to the chaplains of the Chapels Royal and especially those here in Scotland,’ he said.
‘There have been moments recently where I have been lucky to have sensed God’s care and love.
‘And who could forget the scenes that followed the passing of my mother?
‘The outpouring of emotions, the demonstration of respect, love and grief was overwhelming and a privilege to experience and behold.
‘I think I can speak for my whole family when I say we will remain forever grateful for that support.’
The Duke of Edinburgh, flanked by new First Minister John Swinney and Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said he was ‘really touched and comforted’ by how chaplains helped the royal family ‘behind closed doors and away from the public gaze and the scrutiny’.
‘I know it’s part of the job description, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, yet it not’s necessarily what they did, it’s how they did it,’ he said.
‘Here were centuries of tradition, of rituals long practised, of prayer, of care and of comfort.’
The Duke of Edinburgh, who represents King Charles as Lord High Commissioner, speaking at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh
Prince Edward opened up about the death of Queen Elizabeth II while deputising for King Charles as Lord High Commissioner at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Welcoming the newly elected Moderator, Reverend Dr Shaw James Paterson, the duke spoke of the support he received following the death of his mother from royal chaplains. Pictured: Edward on Friday
Edward also congratulated Dr Paterson on his appointment as Moderator for the next 12 months – replacing the Right Reverend Sally Foster-Fulton – joking of the similarities between the life of a child of a minister, with that of a child of the royal family.
‘Growing up in the family of a minister is never easy; having to come to terms with sharing one or both of your parents with the wider parish family,’ he said.
‘And believe me, I can empathise.’
Responding to the Duke of Edinburgh’s address, Dr Paterson asked him to urge the King, who has been diagnosed with cancer, to ‘take the time he needs before he gets up to full speed’.
‘His health is important, and we will be praying for him and all who have got health concerns,’ the Moderator added.
Responding to the Duke of Edinburgh’s address, Dr Paterson asked him to urge the King, who has been diagnosed with cancer, to ‘take the time he needs before he gets up to full speed’
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