Prince Philip's Rebellious Final Night Revealed in New Biography
A new royal biography has shed light on the remarkably unconventional final hours of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 99. According to author Hugo Vickers in his book Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke spent his last evening in characteristically defiant fashion, breaking protocol to enjoy a final beer away from his caregivers.
A Secret Sip and a Quiet Departure
Vickers details that Prince Philip, who had been under nursing care at Windsor Castle during the COVID-19 pandemic, managed to "give his nurses the slip" on his final night. Using his Zimmer frame, he shuffled along the corridor to the Oak Room, where he helped himself to a beer and drank it alone. The following morning, he reportedly got up, bathed, stated he did not feel well, and quietly slipped away, passing away peacefully.
The biography claims that Queen Elizabeth II was not present at the moment of his death and was "absolutely furious that, as so often in life, he left without saying goodbye." The couple had been married since 1947, sharing over seven decades together through immense public service and private challenges.
Eight-Year Private Battle with Pancreatic Cancer
In a startling revelation, Vickers asserts that Prince Philip had been privately battling pancreatic cancer for eight years prior to his death. For four of those years, he continued to conduct official duties and engagements on behalf of the Crown, maintaining a stoic public facade while managing his health in private. This disclosure adds a new layer of understanding to his retirement from public life in 2017 at age 96, suggesting his retreat to Wood Farm in Norfolk was influenced by more than just a desire for quietude.
A Funeral Shaped by Pandemic and Personal Wishes
Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 was a notably subdued affair, with only 30 attendees due to strict social distancing restrictions. Vickers suggests the Duke would have been "delighted" by the limited guest list, as he had explicitly planned much of his own funeral and expressed no desire for a lying-in-state or grand send-off. The late Queen reportedly refused an offer from Downing Street to exempt her from the attendance limits, choosing instead to set an example to the nation during a time when many were unable to properly bid farewell to loved ones.
The funeral occurred just weeks after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, which divulged their grievances with the Royal Family. It marked the first reunion between Harry and his family following the broadcast, with tensions reportedly simmering. In his memoir Spare, Harry later described a confrontation with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, where Charles pleaded with his sons not to "make my final years a misery."
Controversy and Legacy
The period surrounding the funeral was further marred by the "partygate" scandal, which revealed that two staff parties were held at 10 Downing Street the night before Prince Philip's funeral. This led to a formal apology from then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the Queen, highlighting the stark contrast between the Royal Family's adherence to rules and the government's conduct.
Vickers also notes that Prince Philip had no desire to reach his centenary, avoiding any planned celebrations for his 100th birthday. Instead, he preferred low-key observances, such as attending church, as he did for his 80th and 90th birthdays, where family gathered from around the world simply to be with him.
This biography paints a portrait of a fiercely independent royal who, even in his final hours, chose a moment of quiet rebellion over convention, leaving behind a legacy marked by decades of duty, private resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his own principles.
