Duke of Edinburgh in hospital

Without a doubt HRH Prince Phillip has been a rock to our Queen and although a tough lady I wonder how she will cope when her husband is no longer with her. If HRH PP has the same medical issue he suffered before,a problem common in most men as they age, it must have been sheer hell for him carrying out the royal duties in all this heat. Unlike the public who can say sorry I am not up to it today Prince Phillip soldiers on regardless.I for one fear for the future of the monarchy when we are without this wonderful couple.

They've just said on the lunchtime news he was discharged this morning.

Nelliemoser thank you for your post, that was interesting.

paddyann was just stating facts.
But it's how you tell them isn't it.

How does it compare to your life paddyann? She certainly went through more than most people and achieved more than most and sounds like a very brave woman.

and very cruel to bring up his mother's mental illness as if it is a criticism; he must have had a bewildering childhood.

Never did a hard days work in his life
Obviously too young to 'Remember the War' then paddyann - D of E did his duty for Great Britain even if, as you say, his relatives married Nazis.
www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/dec/28/monarchy.davidsmith

And I would not want to have spent my life in the spotlight like him even if he was 'one step behind'. What a difficult place to be in anyway for a strong character like him.

I hasn't heard, just thought it was 'Bring Your Child to Work Day'!
AKA 'Work Experience'

She didn't 'dismiss' her. She was listing factors which made the DoE's childhood difficult. Nothing dismissive or disrespectful about that.

I don't understand how so much can be read into a simple statement of fact.

And it isn't unpleasant to dismiss a woman as - she was mentally ill?

Does anyone really care about him besides his family? Nobody I know!

Clearly they do, paddyann

paddyann was just stating facts.

She clearly isn't a Royalist and I wouldn't have drawn the same conclusions as her but it's interesting what people read into it and how they just cannot resist being unpleasantly judgemental about other posters.

His mother was given a great honour by The Holocaust memorial , Righteous Among Nations, for saving the lives of Jews during the war.

paddyanns dismissal of her disgusts me, but there are still people who sneer at mental illness , just suprised to read it on this forum.

Totally agree Iam !!

It's heartening to see positive comments wishing the DofE well. What a negative, cold, critical and totally unnecessary comment from one poster. Whatever peoples views on the monarchy, both the Queen and the DofE have given their adult lives to public service. I would not swop my ordinary life for theirs. I retired in my mid sixties and live a life that isn't under constant scrutiny.

Paddyann your comments are grossly unfair. He is a WW2 veteran and is 96.
This is what you said.

"twiceas nice what exactly did he give up?" He was an emigre with no visiblle means of support, a mother who was mentally ill and a family who were/supported nazi's."

Ok she was mentally ill poor woman, show her some compassion, that is not her fault.

Paddyann I suggest you read this.
Princess Alice (Prince Philips mother) had a rough time. She had severe hearing problems and from what
He probably could not cope with a wife with mental health issues.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Alice_of_Battenberg

"In 1930, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to a sanatorium in Switzerland; thereafter, she lived separately from her husband.
After her recovery, she devoted most of her remaining years to charity work in Greece. She stayed in Athens during the Second World War, sheltering Jewish refugees, for which she is recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations" by Israel's Holocaust memorial institution, Yad Vashem.
After the war, she stayed in Greece and founded an Orthodox nursing order of nuns known as the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary."
She was an incredibly brave woman.

There was a documentary about her a few years ago which certainly enlighted me as to what she had done for the good of humanity.

Hiding Jews in WW2 in Greece was incredible dangerous. She did not flee her country to somewhere safer as she could have done.

I hasn't heard, just thought it was 'Bring Your Child to Work Day'!

I'm not a great fan of privilege, but the Queen and the DoE are a devoted couple both in their 90s and I do respect age and devotion. I hope he pulls through..

Correction . Earl Mountbatten

Usual unpleasant comments from Paddyann! No surprise there. HRH actually gave up a promising career in the Royal Navy, having been on ACTIVE service during WW2 despite his sisters marriages, his mother's mental illness, his father's infidelities, (none of which he, surprisingly, couldn't help!!!) and being virtually abandoned by his family as a small boy. He was brought up by maternal relations in a foreign country who no doubt did their duty by this lonely unwanted small boy who was used by the ever ambitious Uncle Dicky!(Earl Mountbattan.) Having your life mapped out for you from a child, and playing second fiddle to your wife in ALL matters can't have been easy, and the desire to run to the hills must have been intense particularly during the early years of that marriage.
He has stood by the Queen for nearly 70 years through good times and bad, and yes, she will be bereft without him, so here's hoping that he makes a speedy recovery to enjoy his retirement, perhaps doing what HE wants to do with duty being put firmly on the back burner - He certainly deserves it.

Oh dear Paddyann not a fan then
He can't help who his mother was or if she was mentally ill why is that of any importance ?
I would say the old chap has worked incredible hard and this is coming from someone who s not huge on the royals but I d do admire their preserverence,both of them, I wonder if you ll still be getting up to do your duties in your 90 s

As for taking it easy I think the DofE will just pass away when that happens he needs to be 'doing'
96 is a huge age and realistically we have to expect he can pass any time he's a gutsy old boy so may well wether yet another storm for a few months

A bit harsh there paddyann

Twiceasnice what exactly did he give up? He was an emigre with no visiblle means of support ,a mother who was mentally ill and a family who were/supported nazi's.Seems to me he did very well by marrying the queen as his uncle wanted and he had a fabulous life even if it was one step behind her .Never did a hard days work in his life ,carried like all the other royal hangers on .Does anyone really care about him besides his family? Nobody I know!

I totally admire them both and as parents/grandparents I feel they are trying to keep going as long as possible to give their offspring as much guidance and leeway as they can before the burden falls on their shoulders.

I think they are cutting down on the amount they do and the younger ones are supposed to be doing much more; he was going to retire altogether in the autumn but perhaps sooner would be a good idea. It takes much longer to get over these things the older you are.

No-one will be able to decide for him though so I hope he gets well soon.

I wish him and the Queen well but do think they should both hand over to the younger Royals. When the Duke passes away the Queen will be totally bereft and likely not far behind him. A sudden change caused by their passing could be bad for the monarchy.

I have respect for him too, but perhaps it's a flare up of his recurrent lackoftactitis? He's suffered from that for years, thank goodness! His "classic" remarks still make me smile!

He had that urinary infection after he got chilled on the barge in the diamond jubilee regatta on the Thames so maybe that has recurred. It seems to be a weak spot for old gentlemen. At 96 he must have some weaknesses.