A petition has been launched to erect a statue of Prince Philip in London, following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death this morning.
The petition was started on change.org by Save Our Statues after Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Queen’s husband of 73 years died peacefully aged 99.
The statement on the website said: The Duke of Edinburgh served our country for 78 years, serving 13 in the Royal Navy & then 65 as Britain’s longest serving consort, including 22,000 engagements & supporting 780 organisations.
“We say there should be a prominent statue of the Duke in London to recognise the above, as well as his great personal dedication and support to Her Majesty the Queen.”
At time of writing almost 800 people had signed the petition.
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.
“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: Carfax2 via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 license
