Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's youngest child, Prince Edward, spoke candidly in a speech about the "overwhelming" loss of his parents while deputizing for King Charles III in Scotland. During his appearance at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Saturday, May 18, the Duke of Edinburgh also shared how his mother's passing was "far more emotional" since it came only 17 months after the loss of his father.
Elizabeth II died in her sleep at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022, after a record-breaking reign of 70.5 years as Britain's monarch. Her passing led to an "immense" outpouring of grief across her former kingdom and the Commonwealth. For the royal family, it came as a "double blow," according to a palace insider, due to Prince Philip's passing having only occurred 1.5 years before on April 9, 2021.
"For my own part, I just want to pay [a] personal tribute to the chaplains of the Chapels Royal and especially those here in Scotland," Edward shared. "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?"
His Royal Highness added: "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."
Prince Edward faced ridicule from the press in his early adulthood thanks to numerous gaffes and a memorable"disaster" TV special in 1987, which was said to have "deeply embarrassed the late Queen." Royal analysts and historians have also written about his "rocky" relationship with his stern father, especially after he quit the Royal Marines that same year for a career in the arts.
Despite these early setbacks, the prince was long-rumored to be pegged to inherit his dad's title after it passed to King Charles when Philip died. The monarch bestowed the Scottish peerage on his younger brother on March 10, ending years of speculation.
The Duke of Edinburgh spoke of the gratitude both he and the entire royal family felt for the religious chaplains that provided comfort to the regal dynasty after Her late Majesty died "behind closed doors and away from the public gaze and the scrutiny."
Edward concluded: "I know it’s part of the job description, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, yet it is not necessarily what they did; it’s how they did it. Here were centuries of tradition, of rituals long practiced, of prayer, of care and of comfort."
GBN reported on Edward's speech.