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A TRIBUTE TO HRH PRINCE PHILIP, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Fionnuala Jay O’Boyle CBE, Lord Lieutenant for Belfast:
“His Royal Highness was a man of vision, action and delivery. A passionate champion of science, engineering and technology, he also spoke several languages and had a deep interest in philosophy and matters spiritual. Invariably quick witted and well informed, he never failed to light up a room with his considerable charisma. His connectivity with young people was outstanding and his Gold Award ceremonies at Hillsborough Castle for The Duke of Edinburgh Award are indeed the stuff of legend.
The volume and diversity of people who have contacted my office and the Belfast Lieutenancy website to pay their condolences has been striking. It is clear that His Royal Highness not only impacted many lives, but also is held in enormous affection and admiration by the people of this city. He was a Prince in all respects, and we will not see his likes again.”
Kate Thompson Director of Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Northern Ireland:
“My memory of His Royal Highness will be of his ability to light up rooms filled with young people who had achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards; of his complete focus on how young people had achieved their Awards, and his ability to make every young person feel special.
Our founder was driven to ensure every young person who wanted to do their ‘DofE’ got that chance. He was instrumental in the establishment of our Joint Award Initiative with Gaisce – The President’s Award, which allows young people doing their Award in Northern Ireland to choose how their fantastic achievement is recognised. The Duke of Edinburgh also held a number of joint presentations with The President of Ireland and in the last few days it has been said that this was “undoubtedly, a symbol of reconciliation.”
He was a true visionary and we will miss his incredible knowledge, quick wit, and wonderful sense of fun. But as we reflect on his life we also celebrate his legacy and his commitment to the young people of Northern Ireland.”
Rosemary Rainey OBE Board Member of the Education Authority
“l was always impressed that HRH Prince Philip showed great concern for the youth of the UK and beyond. He had a belief in discipline discovered through personal training and achievement, which was then transferred into everyday life and tasks undertaken. He was an encourager, wishing to see each young person achieve his/her full potential and overcome difficulties of all kinds. He saw the positive in people and developed the Duke of Edinburgh Award accordingly. My own nephew achieved the Gold Award and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Duke at St. James’ Palace.
Many young people, on reflection, now acknowledge how much they owe to the Duke and his Award Scheme. It opened new avenues to them, including that of voluntary and community service.
I think of him as an educator, an encourager, a facilitator, a friend and a provider for the youth of today.”
Ken McLean Former Secretary of the Outward Bound Scheme, Northern Ireland
“I met HRH Prince Philip on several occasions when I was involved with the Outward Bound Trust, this included Garden Parties at Hillsborough Castle as pictured. We wore black spotted ties and the Duke always knew who we were just by looking at our ties. I found the Prince to be a very nice man, he always did the talking and was very sharp – you had to make sure you knew your facts as he certainly did, he was always very well informed.”
Lady Elizabeth Bloomfield MBE
“Prince Philip was charming and is definitely good looking. He was quite funny, as when I met him he was laughing at my hat. He said it is going to fall off! I was hoping it would fall off, as he would have to pick it up! The Prince gave a great impression, as the crowds loved him.”
Alderman Jim Rodgers OBE Former Lord Mayor of Belfast
“I had the pleasure of meeting His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh on a number of occasions, during the two periods when I was Lord Mayor of Belfast; also as Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Belfast, and as High Sheriff of the capital city of Northern Ireland.
He came across as a very well informed person and one who knew exactly what was going on in Belfast. The Lord Mayor’s chain of office really impressed him and he told me it was one of the nicest he had ever seen.
He also said that Belfast was a beautiful city and hoped we would soon put the Troubles behind us. I told him that both he and Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth were always welcome in our great city.”
Pamela Ballantine Television Presenter
“It is well documented that HRH The Prince Philip was not just a figurehead of many charities, he was hands on and really interested in the work they did too. So it was through a couple of charities I work with that I was fortunate enough to meet him on a number of occasions in Belfast, Hillsborough Castle, The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and Buckingham Palace.
I was invited to Hillsborough Castle for lunch with HM The Queen and HRH on one of their visits. I naturally assumed it would be me and a couple of hundred other people spread throughout the house and grounds so I was really surprised to discover there were only 20 of us sitting down for lunch in the dining room, with drinks beforehand in the drawing room. The Royal couple mingled with the guests and put us all at ease, asking pertinent questions and having a laugh too.
I’m a board member of the Belfast Activity Centre, which was set up over 30 years ago, providing development for young people originally through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and he would visit the Centre to see how the work was going. He would regularly attend the DofE Gold Awards Presentations, and on a number of occasions I was asked to assist His Royal Highness at the ceremony. He was always really relaxed in the company of the young people and really interested in what they had done for their awards. When he left the room you could be guaranteed he would leave everyone laughing with his great sense of humour.
I didn’t envy anyone who was organising one of his events as if something caught his eye he could deviate from the planned route and timetable and quite often you would hear one of his team issue the warning “The Duke has gone rogue”.
I found him charming, interesting, sharp and funny. He made a lasting impression on anyone who met him and will be greatly missed.”
From The Ulster Tatler Archives Royal Visits Through the decades
Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh meet Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr Martin McAleese at Hillsborough Castle in
December 2005. Photo courtesy of Pacemaker
The Duke of Edinburgh pictured at Coleraine Town Hall in 2014.
Photo courtesy of Pacemaker.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh shares a joke with Gold Award winners during a reception at Hillsborough Castle for the presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in 2006.
Photo courtesy of Pacemaker. HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at St George’s Market in 2014. Photo M T Hurson/Harrisons
Her majesty the Queen and Prince Philip meet some of the crew and view some of the props on the set of Game of Thrones during a visit in 2014. HRH is at Harland & Wolff in 1977 during the Silver Jubilee. Photo courtesy of Pacemaker.
Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visit the Giant’s Causeway back in
2016. Photo by Aaron McCracken/Harrisons
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh pictured at a Garden Party in Hillsborough Castle in 2014.
Photo by Simon Graham/Harrison Photography
