Alveena Nadeem
Editor
Prince Philip, the husband to Queen Elizabeth II and member of the British royal family, died of natural causes on the morning of April 9, 2021 at 99 years old. He was a British majesty, yet people across the globe feel his death. Though he was never king, he ruled every conversation with his jarring words.
"He was very funny. Prince Philip was the man who said if ever you see a man opening the car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife. He was a shrewd observer of people,” Giles Brandreth, who ran one of Philip's charities, said.
After being told that Madonna was singing the Die Another Day theme in 2002, he responded with “Are we going to need ear plugs?” And in 1965, at a project to protect turtle doves in Anguilla, he said, “Cats kill far more birds than men. Why don’t you have a slogan: ‘Kill a cat and save a bird?’”
Prince Philip was not the only British royalty who was known for his personality. From Princess Diana breaking royal protocol and angering the Queen to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle separating themselves from the family by moving to the U.S., the family’s twists and turns have caught long-lasting attention.
“I feel really sad about it. I’ve grown up my whole life adoring the royal family and it’s such a shame to see such a loyal supporter to the Queen go. The funeral will definitely be history in the making due to the Harry and Meghan drama. I feel bad for Harry because he is in the US right now and is by himself. His Royal Highness was a part of so much history. He met and knew King George, Lady Grace of Monaco, and even of course knew Princess Diana” junior Caroline Dedmon said.
Others, however, do not see the big deal about someone they have never met dying in a country they do not live in.
“I’m not part of their country or their family, so I don’t really feel emotional. Doesn’t matter if you’re royal, you know? I feel bad for their family, but it’s not like he’s the last person to die on the Earth or something. People die everyday,” Anonymous said.
It is easy to forget that these princes and princesses are just people. Prince Philip’s death shook the world not only because of how popular he was, but because it reminded us that--beyond majestic mansions and family feuds--he was a human. A human who could die.
Wealth, popularity or royalty--nothing can bribe death. Today, it was Prince Philip. Tomorrow, it could be any other person. Cherish your loved ones, for we are all just people.
Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II hold their kids, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, outside their castle in Windsor. Playing outside is a classic family activity--even for royalty.
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