Prince Philip Sends Thank You Notes to Fans for His 98th Birthday

Prince Philip may just be two years shy of 100—and technically retired from public life—but he hasn’t lapsed in his responsibilities.

After receiving a slew of “Happy Birthday” cards from well-wishers earlier this month, Philip’s considerate thank-you letters have already been sent out. The blog Gert’s Royal Replies went through the effort of sending a letter and publicly sharing the response, so even royal watchers who weren’t able to drop something in the mail can enjoy the Philip’s reply.

The letter was sent on the royal’s behalf by his correspondence secretary, Suzy Lethbridge. The simple note arrived in an envelope emblazoned with a symbol, which the blog identifies as Philip’s “badge.” The design features a rendering of Edinburgh Castle at its center (fitting, as Philip is the Duke of Edinburgh), surrounded by an Order of the Garter belt (of which Philip is a member), and topped off with a coronet.

Inside, a letter dated June 2019 contains a simple, sweet message. “Prince Philip is most grateful for your message of good wishes for his birthday,” it reads. Lethbridge’s signature is printed below, followed by her credentials.

With this letter, Philip is abiding by a longstanding royal tradition: that if a fan sends a letter, congratulating that royal on a birthday or anniversary, or wishing them a happy Easter or Christmas, they’re likely to receive a response in the mail.

It’s a small but considerate gesture, which is likely to continue for some time to come—even as the rest of us abandon snail mail.