Sunderland civic leaders pay tribute to Prince Philip

Buckingham Palace confirmed today, Friday, April 9, that the Duke of Edinburgh had died this morning.

Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott said was ‘so sad to learn of the death of Prince Philip’.

"I send my sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and all of the Royal Family,” she said.

“Prince Philip has given his adult life to public service and more than 70 years’ support to Her Majesty and created the Duke of Edinburgh scheme which has benefited so many young people – a man who has lived a long and giving life, who is mourned.”

Bishop of Durham The Rt Revd Paul Butler Bishop of Durham said the Duke’s dedication to Queen and country ‘stands as an inspiration for us all’.

“He gave a lifetime of devoted public service,” he said.

"He was a distinguished young Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, was outstanding as consort to The Sovereign.

"He is well remembered for his love of a wide range of sports, his sense of humour, and his long and devoted marriage to The Queen.

“It was my personal privilege, as a bishop, to meet Prince Philip on a small number of occasions. Each time he took a keen interest in the people and setting in which we met.”

Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson said she sent her ‘deepest condolences’ to ‘Her Majesty The Queen, the Royal Family and the British People’.

"His devotion to The Queen and dedication to the country, from serving in the Royal Navy to decades of service as Duke of Edinburgh, has been remarkable,” she added.

Bridget Phillipson MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, said Prince Philip's life ‘embodied the values of duty and public service’.

"My thoughts are with the Queen and the Royal Family, as the country mourns his passing and remembers his extraordinary life,” she added.

Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear Susan Winfield OBE said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh today and our condolences and thoughts are with HM the Queen and all the royal family.

“Prince Philip was a strong character, a warm, friendly man with a sense of humour and a lively interest in whatever you were talking about. He was a tremendous support to Her Majesty and will be greatly missed by her and all members of the royal family.

“He will be remembered by many who met him on visits to Tyne and Wear and also by the thousands of young people who have taken the opportunities and benefitted greatly from his Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.”

Sunderland Council and Labour group leader Graeme Miller paid tribute to the Duke's war service in particular: "This was a man who fought in the Second World War, who stood up to Fascism, Nazism and the rise of dictators.

"He put himself in harm's way, serving in the Royal Navy in several battles. Without people like him, we might be living in a different world.

"He was a dad, husband, grandad and great-grandad and my thoughts were with the family at this time."

Sunderland City Council Conservative group leader Coun Antony Mullen paid tribute to the Duke’s achievements throughout his life: "Prince Philip led an incredible life, fighting on behalf of Britain in the Second World War and subsequently supporting its Head of State through peacetime.

"He was known for his humour, his commitment to The Queen and his love for our country,” he said.

City council Lib Dem deputy leader Coun Stephen O’Brien said Prince Philip had been ‘a very funny and a very charismatic man’.

"He will be greatly missed by very many people,” he said.

UKIP Sunderland Group leader Coun Pam Mann added: “It is with sadness that we learned of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

"The thoughts of my group are with the Royal Family and we share our deepest condolences.”

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