Since the death of H.R.H. Prince Philip , the Duke of Edinburgh I have seen and read many people's recollections of when they saw or met him. Do any of the Ambassadors have any experiences they can share?
I saw him when I was at school in 1953 - he and the Queen came to Sunderland, where I lived, as part of their round Britain tour following the Coronation. I saw him again in 1964 or 65 when he came to Oxford to formally open the Engineering Building of Oxford University. We all watched from the window of the Department of Nuclear Physics, where I worked, which at the time was situated in Banbury Road.
What's your experience?
I met tge Duke of Edinburgh on a number of occasions but the one that sticks in my mind was in 2008 when along with Her Majesty the Queen came to Banbury to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the granting of their Royal Charter, (I was a part time mace bearer for the Council)
Whilst the Queen was doing the ceremonial duties, the Duke was visiting Pro-Drive which was based just off the M40 as you entered Banbury (it is now a retail shopping park) .
Anyway as I said the Queen was in the Town Hall and there were large crowds in the High Street and I was detailed to stand at the Town Hall doors and keep the crowd updated on what was happening, I was chatting to some people when a range rover drove on to the forecourt of the Town Hall and out of the driving seat stepped his Royal Highness the Duke and he came to me and said with his usual wit and humour "Where's the old girl then? " a bodyguard stepped forward and said the Queen is upstairs in the Town Hall, he turned to the crowd and said I hope there is a bloody lift!!! It was a great day for Banbury.
Personally I never met him but always admired him for his wit and what seemed genuine interest in people. Also his often humour and his dry way of sharing it! I think he is a sad loss to the Royal Family and hope and am sure that Charles and the others will support the Queen in her future reign minus the man who was always beside her and her rock.
I did see the Queen albeit distantly many years ago and other than that I have a vague memory of when was a pupil at Bayswater School I think was the official opening of the Ormerod School of us being let to go down to the fence to see a helicopter land and was either the Duke and Duchess of Kent or Gloucester got out as they were officially opening the school. As a little kid this impressive helicopter landing and the noise was something to be seen and I remember the Royals attending looking over and waving at us all kids madly waving back and cheering them from the school fence.
That is my only involvement personally of seeing Royalty through the years. Some of the things that have been shared about the Duke have been interesting though again admit I didn't watch everything that has been on TV about him since his passing.