Duke of Edinburgh reveals lasting memories of his late father Prince Philip’s ‘extraordinary mind’ and describes wife Sophie as his ‘rock’ in rare interview to mark his 60th birthday
The Duke of Edinburgh has praised Prince Philip as an “extraordinary spirit” as he shared his favorite memories of his father in a rare interview to mark his 60th birthday.
Prince Edward also revealed that his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is his ‘rock’ as he sat down with gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh on ITV’s Love Your Weekend programme.
He said his late father – who died in April 2021 aged 99 – was “brilliant with people”, even if sometimes it “didn’t necessarily come across that way”.
“He always encouraged everyone,” the Duke of Edinburgh said. ‘You actually had to get to know him.
‘He was just an extraordinary man. He was the Prince Albert of our time. He had an extraordinary mind. He loved design, he loved innovation.”
The Duke of Edinburgh has praised Prince Philip as an ‘extraordinary spirit’ as he shared his favorite memories of his father in a rare interview to mark his 60th birthday
Edward said his late father – who died in April 2021 aged 99 – was “brilliant with people”, even if sometimes it “didn’t necessarily come across that way”.
Prince Edward, who turns 60 on March 10, revealed some of his lasting memories of his father, including teaching his daughter Lady Louise, 20, to drive a carriage.
He said: ‘It was completely out of her hands… he took her out with the team and I think it was only the second time, he rode along and said, “Would you like to give it a try?” and she didn’t even have time to answer the question, he just handed over the reins.
“We’re very lucky, we have two who we think are extremely brilliant kids who are taking such different paths for themselves.
‘I find that just as fascinating.’
During his chat with Titchmarsh, Prince Edward also paid tribute to his wife Sophie, who he described as his ‘rock’.
He said: ‘I’m incredibly lucky that I found Sophie and that she found me.’
He and Sophie, 59, have been married since 1999 after meeting two years earlier during a promotional shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge.
The couple have two children together: Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex.
Prince Edward, who turns 60 on March 10, revealed some of his lasting memories of his father, including teaching his daughter Lady Louise, 20, to drive a carriage
Prince Edward seen with the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, in July 2005
Queen Elizabeth with Prince Edward at Windsor in Berkshire, 1965
Asked about adjusting to his new title of Duke of Edinburgh, Edward said it had been a ‘huge privilege’ but that it had also ‘raised quite a lot of expectations’.
“I mean, there’s an awful lot of legacy attached to that title and everything my dad did,” he continued.
‘Especially if you don’t inherit it, this is a choice… that comes with all the expectations that people have.
“It’s just the strangest and strangest feeling. You walk into a room and, especially now, there are names of places on a card and I still look around and say, ‘Yes, but where am I sitting?’.”
The Duke carried out a series of engagements with the Duchess of Edinburgh earlier this week, ahead of his milestone birthday.
He was presented with a Leeds Rhinos rugby shirt with ‘HRH 60’ on the back to mark the date during a visit to Headingley Stadium in Leeds on Friday.
When Edward was asked about Mothering Sunday on the program, he said it was “always an important event” growing up
During his chat with Titchmarsh, Prince Edward also paid tribute to his wife Sophie, who he described as his ‘rock’.
Sophie and Prince Edward are pictured holding their new son James in December 2007
When Edward was asked about Mothering Sunday on the program, he said it was “always an important event” growing up.
“Those days were, and these days are very important, to commemorate some very special people in our lives,” he said.
“There should be several times in the year when we make a special kind of effort and Mothering Sunday was certainly one of those where you make a special kind of effort just to say ‘thank you.’
Watch the full interview with Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday, March 10 at 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX.