NEWS REVIEW FOR THE WEB RADIO

Good morning. Thank you for joining us today.
I am currently ahead of Buckingham Palace.

Today we have a special edition : the Royal Family. We are going to talk about Prince Philip and pay tribute to him because it has been seven months since he left us. Don’t forget that the news shook the whole world on nine April.
Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 99, Buckingham Palace announced.
A statement issued by the palace just after midday said the Queen was « deeply saddened » by his death at Windsor Castle on Friday morning.
The Duke of Edinburgh, the longest-serving royal consort in British history, was at the Queen’s side for more than six decades of reign.
Boris Johnson said he had « inspired the lives of countless young people ».
« It is with deep sadness that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, »the Palace had said.
« The Royal Family has joined with people around the world in mourning his loss. »
The Prime Minister had spoken and said the Duke had « won the affection of generations here in the UK, in the Commonwealth and around the world ».
As a tribute to Prince Philip, Westminster Abbey began ringing its bell once every 60 seconds - 99 times to honour each year of his life.
People laid floral tributes outside the palace, while hundreds of people went to Windsor Castle to pay their respects.
However, the government had insisted on the public not to pay their respects or lay tributes at the royal residences in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Royal Family had asked people to consider donating to charity rather than leaving flowers in memory of the Duke, and an online book of condolences was launched on the Royal Family’s official website for those wishing to send messages.
The BBC’s royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell had said it was « a moment of sadness » for the country and « particularly for the Queen who is losing her husband of 73 years - a longer time than most of us can imagine ».
He said Prince Philip had made « an enormous contribution to the success of the Queen’s reign », describing the Duke as « totally loyal in his belief in the importance of the role the Queen fulfilled - and in his duty to support her ».
« It was the importance of the strength of that relationship, of their maaisrige, that was so crucial to the success of her reign, » he added.
A bank of photographers and cameramen were lined up around the growing number of tributes at Buckingham Palace on Friday afternoon, said BBC News reporter Marie Jackson. Adam Wharton-Ward, 36, had arrived to leave flowers at the palace gates. He had been visiting London from his home in France, but had been so moved by the news that he wanted to « rally » for the Queen’s sake. "It’s so sad. He was by her side for 73 years.
The prince married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen. In March, the Duke left the King Edward VII Hospital in central London after a month’s stay for treatment. He had been admitted on 16 February after feeling unwell, and then underwent surgery for a pre-existing heart problem at another London hospital. The day he died was a day of quiet reflection. The sun was shining on Windsor Castle that afternoon. When people heard of the Duke’s death, they came to lay flowers at the entrance.
A young boy, Oscar, had come with his mother to lay flowers. He left a card that said, « Your Majesty, I am sorry to hear about the death of your incredible husband. »It’s really sad,« another woman told us. »I just wanted him to get to 100," she said. Prince Philip’s funeral was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, but arrangements were changed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The funeral arrangements had been revised in light of the current Circumstances arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and members of the public were regrettably asked not to attempt to attend or participate in any of the events that make up the funeral."
All British government buildings were ordered to fly the official flag in tribute to the Duke until the day after the funeral. Prince Philip and the Queen had four children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Their first son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, followed by his sister, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, in 1950, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, in 1960 and the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, in 1964.
Politicians in the UK were united in mourning after the news of the Duke’s death. A British politician and former lawyer said the UK had « lost an extraordinary public servant ». Meanwhile, Commonwealth leaders led an international response to the Duke’s death. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Twitter that the Duke "embodies a generation we will
never see again« , while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described Philip as a »man of great determination and conviction".
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the Duke for his « distinguished career in the military » and his work. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden joined other world leaders in sending their « deepest condolences » to the Queen, the Royal Family and the people of the UK.
To conclude our coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh, I leave you with one of Elizabeth II’s finest quotes. « I declare before you all that my whole life, long or short, will be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. »
Quoting Elizabeth II : This is Noé reporting live from Buckingham Place in London for BBC Marcel Pagnol’s News School Report. The special edition on Prince Philip is now over. Thank you for listening and have a good day.
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