Reflections on the life and legacy of HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh by The

Reflections on the life and legacy of HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

My heart skipped a beat or two when the notification that His Royal Highness The Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh has died reached me. It was less than 15 minutes of the notice being placed on the rails at Buckingham Palace. Could this be true? Was this a ghastly hoax? Alas, the sorrow-filled moment that we knew must come had arrived. My first thoughts went to Her Majesty who publicly stated on several occasions how his support, advice and counsel provided her such strength.

During his long and relatively healthy life, The Duke of Edinburgh took on over 780 patronages, had a clear affection for the Royal Navy and a drive to help young people to find the best in themselves through skills, expeditions and voluntary service. Since 1996 HRH came to Bristol on 11 occasions, visiting nearly 25 organisations, community groups and businesses. On three of those occasions, I was in his presence. I was also privileged to meet him at Buckingham Palace on a further two occasions.

Few people realise that a third of the patronages of The Duke of Edinburgh involved organisations in Commonwealth countries. Over his lifetime and through numerous visits to observe grassroots environmental or community projects, understand how the UK responded to requests to help build the institutions of government and national infrastructure, pose solutions to pressing issues of health, education and jobs, HRH embraced the diversity within the Commonwealth and breathed life into the free and equal status of countries therein. The transition from colony to independence to Commonwealth was as much crafted by The Duke of Edinburgh as Her Majesty and the Heads of State of the Commonwealth. The focus on climate change and the marine environment are but two of the strands of work pursued throughout the Commonwealth, both close to the heart of The Duke. Looking to the future, these are the ties that will continue to bind together 54 Commonwealth countries, spanning the Caribbean and North America to Australasia, and of which we all can be immensely proud.

Less than a year ago, The Queen elevated me to Honorary Captain of the Royal Naval Reserves. My first thought was of my parents, my youth on their powerboat and the camping trips our family found so very enjoyable. Then I recalled the stellar naval career of The Duke of Edinburgh and his love of the sea. In 1970, when the SS Great Britain was returned from the Falkland Islands where she had been scuttled in 1937 to the dock where it was originally built in Bristol, The Duke of Edinburgh was onboard. As the first Patron of the SS Great Britain, his interest in engineering and the sea were united. He followed closely her preservation and the accumulation of archive materials. For nearly a decade the SS Great Britain has run a successful, five-year long education programme for pupils in Years

7 to 11, encouraging young people to consider careers in science, engineering and technology. Successive Royal patrons have met these 'Future Brunels' and heard how the programme changed their career aspirations, building the skills and innovation needed in our country for years to come.

Lastly, The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme has global recognition and is operational in 130 countries worldwide. I have met many young people involved at all three levels in the Scheme. I have listened to their experiences of learning new skills, partaking in expeditions, conquering their fears and becoming more aware of the needs of others through volunteering. Most of my Lord-Lieutenant's Cadets have taken part in the Scheme, as have young people from schools located in communities of disadvantage or elsewhere in the County. I have also met parents who spoke with tremendous pride of meeting the Duke of Edinburgh on achieving the Gold award. 100 percent of those involved in the Awards Scheme and its delivery speak of the increased self-esteem, confidence and resilience gained by participants.

People will read what they wish into accounts of what The Duke of Edinburgh may have said or done during the 22,200 plus public engagements he made during his time as the longest ever Consort to a reigning British monarch. What is abundantly clear is the phenomenal way that the energy, drive and influence of The Duke of Edinburgh has permeated our lives for the good of the environment, the encouragement of our young people and the cohesiveness of society here in the UK, the Commonwealth and further afield

Mrs Peaches Golding OBE CStl RNR Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for Bristol 10 April 2021