The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, has expressed his condolences to the Queen, following the death of her husband Prince Philip, at the age of 99.
Buckingham Palace confirmed earlier today that the Duke of Edinburgh, husband to the Queen for over 73 years, died peacefully this morning.
In a twitter post, President Nausėda said: “It is with great sadness that I learned about the passing of Prince Philip. May his soul rest in peace.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Queen Elizabeth II. In this hour of immense loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you.”
The Lithuanian President added his thoughts and prayers are with the British people.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė also sent a message of condolence to the Queen.
Prime Minister Šimonytė said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of HRH Prince Philip. My sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and the whole Royal Family.”
Prince Philip visited Lithuania with Queen Elizabeth II in October 2006, during a State Visit to the Baltic Republics.
The duke had previously been admitted to hospital on 16 February where he remained for two weeks.
He was then transferred to St Bart’s hospital for treatment for an infection and heart condition after which he was discharged on 16 March in “good spirits” according to sources.
In a statement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We remember the duke above all for his steadfast support for Her Majesty the Queen.
“Not just as her consort, by her side every day of her reign, but as her husband, her strength and stay of more than seventy years. And it is to Her Majesty and her family that our nations’ thoughts must turn today.
“Because they have lost not just a much loved and highly respected public figure but a devoted husband and a proud and loving father, grandfather and in recent years, great grandfather.
“Speaking on their golden wedding anniversary Her Majesty said that our county owed her husband a greater debt than he would ever claim or we shall ever know, and I am sure that estimate is correct.
“So we mourn today with Her Majesty the Queen. We offer our condolences to her and all her family.
“And we give thanks as a nation and kingdom for the extraordinary life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”
You can read all of SWL’s Prince Philip coverage here.
Featured Image Credit: Augustas Didžgalvis via Wikimedia Commons
