Press Releases09 Apr 21

Statement by the Archbishop of Armagh on the Death of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

A statement from the Most Revd John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland:

‘With profound sympathy for Her Majesty the Queen, I wish to express my sincere condolences to her and her whole family on the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.  Her Majesty’s sense of loss must be very great after over seventy years of unbroken love and friendship.

‘In remembering and reflecting on a life of service, including as an Naval Officer in the Second World War, we recall his exemplary sense of duty to the nation and Commonwealth over seven decades and, most especially, his love, honour and obedience to Her Majesty.

‘Prince Philip accepted and developed a unique role in the life of the United Kingdom, always closely supporting the Queen as her “liege man of life and limb”, and continuing to serve in an active public life which continued long after many would have sought to lay aside a heavy burden of public service.  My prayers will be with the Royal Family in the days to come.’