THE Duke of Edinburgh, whose death was announced yesterday at the age of 99, was the longest-serving consort in British history. He was defined by his relationship with the Queen and relinquished the naval career he loved to support his wife in her royal role.
Over the years, he carried out more than 22,000 solo engagements and gave more than 5400 speeches, as well as taking part in thousands of other engagements with the Queen and committing himself to innumerable obligations behind the scenes.
The duke had a profound effect on the development of the British monarchy and was a moderniser of The Firm. In private, he was head of the family. To the public, he was the irascible figure who spoke his mind despite the consequences and was famed for his outrageous gaffes.