Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 99 and Barrie's Brits are mourning his passing.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who had been hospitalized in February for a pre-existing heart condition, passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle on April 9, Buckingham Palace reported earlier today.
“It’s very sad, (but) not something we all weren’t expecting. He’s been very sick for a few years. He was a rock for the queen and has just been an amazing partner for her. … He was behind her every inch of the way and great partner for over 70 years,” said Caroline Buckle, who moved to Canada in 1967 from Lancashire, Blackpool and currently serves as the activities director for the Barrie British Club.
“The only thing was it was sad he had to give up his name for the monarchy and that was a real thorn in his side," she added. "He was (a) Mountbatten and when he married the queen he couldn’t give his children his own surname. He had to give Windsor... but Mountbatten is creeping into some of the royal children’s names now."
Prince Philip, Buckle continued, was never shy about speaking his mind.
“He always had a mind of his own... but he had to follow protocol. There is an unwritten law how the royals deal with things. That was very sad, but it didn’t deter him from doing his duty to the monarchy," she said.
Eddy Rogers was born and raised in Lincoln, about two hours north of London, in the early 1980s. Looking back, he said the prince was ultimately a fantastic companion to the queen.
“He was loyal and supportive, and really gave his all to royal service. He never garnered much devotion from the people, but then again, he was humble enough never to seek it, either,” he said. “He has been 'part of the furniture' in Britain and the Commonwealth for so many people's living memories, and it will be strange to see the queen as a widow now.
"I would like to think that everyone, regardless of their thoughts on the monarchy, will at least think of her in this moment," Rogers added.
Edna Lister, who is the president of the Barrie British Club, acknowledged that the prince's death, like the passing of any loved one, will leave a hole.
“It’s going to be like any family. They’re the royal family, but they’re still a family and he is the grandfather and it’s going to upset them very much,” she said. “Philip was great. I might not be rushing around to see them if they came to the bottom of the street, but I would for Philip because I think he was very amusing and frequently misunderstood.
"I think he was good for the queen. I know he had a pretty rough childhood and was pushed from pillar to post and think he survived pretty well considering," Lister added. "It’s a pity he didn’t last until his 100th (birthday).”
The City of Barrie has lowered its flags outside city hall to half-mast today.
Born on the Greek island of Corfu on June 10, 1921, Prince Philip was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, a younger son of King George I of the Hellenes. His mother, Princess Alice, was a daughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
He married the queen in 1947 when she was still Princess Elizabeth. She became queen five years later.
The couple had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Charles, the Prince of Wales, their first son, was born in 1948. His sister, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, was born in 1950, followed by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, in 1960 and the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, in 1964.
