In the period leading up to Philip’s death, Prince Charles was understood to be the Duke’s only visitor during a hospital stay in February 2021 due to Covid restrictions at the time.
Charles bravely addressed the press to pay tribute to his “dear Papa” shortly after his father’s death, and he thanked people for their kind messages of support.
The future King said: “My father for I suppose, the last 70 years, has given the most remarkable, devoted service to the Queen, to my family, and to the country and also to the whole of the Commonwealth.
“And as you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously – he was a much-loved and appreciated figure, and apart from anything else, I can imagine he’d be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world in the Commonwealth who also, I think, share our loss and our sorrow.