Royal Family News
Prince Philip wanted to die in his own bed’ and “on his own terms”
Prince Philip wanted to die at home, “in his own bed” and “on his own terms”.
According to a royal source, Prince Philip was determined to die at home, and Queen Elizbeth was determined to grant her husband's last wish.
Following a nearly month-long stay in the hospital for cardiac complications, the 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh died “peacefully” at Windsor Castle, his home.
The Duke's fervent desire was to die peacefully at home, according to a royal source. “We knew that when he was taken home it was to die on his own terms, not in a hospital bed, but in his own bed.”
“Philip didn't want any fuss,” the source continued. “He wanted to do things his way until the end .”
“He spent most of the four weeks he was in hospital trying to get home,” a source told the UK's The Telegraph. “They operated on his heart in a bid to give him a little longer, maybe with the 100th birthday in mind. But he didn't really care about that. There is no way he would have wanted to die in hospital .”
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In February, Prince Charles paid a visit to Prince Philip during his last and longest hospital stay at King Edward VII's Hospital in London. The Duke of Edinburgh had expressed his desire to “die in his own bed” to his son.
Marlene Koenig, a royal expert, has also reported that Philip was “brought home to die.” “I think he was brought home to die,” Ms Koenig told Express, “and it's sad he couldn't reach his 100th birthday.”
an anonymous source told royal columnist Robert Jobson of the Daily Mail of Philip's last chat with his son,
“In an emotional bedside conversation, the Duke advised Prince Charles on caring for the Queen when he was gone, and on how Charles should lead the Royal Family through the years ahead,” Mr Jobson wote.
Mr Jobson was informed by a royal source that Philip was “fully aware he was unlikely to recover after weeks in hospital.”
They also stated that the Duke's last desire was to return home.
“He wanted to die in his own bed, behind the walls of Windsor Castle,” Mr Jobson said.
Philip's 94-year-old wife, Queen Elizabeth, is said to have been at his bedside when he died.
In recent years, their son Prince Charles, 72, has been said to be “comforted” by his close relationship with his father.
“‘It is some small comfort that the prince was in much more regular contact with his father in recent weeks and months than he otherwise might have been. He was the only family member who was able to visit him in hospital and he was at Windsor as recently as the week before last. They spoke a great deal .”
“The idea that their relationship was strained, certainly in recent years, couldn't have been further from the truth. And that's an important thing to remember in all that is being written,” another source said.
“There was genuine love, affection and understanding there. Which is all anyone holds dear at the end .”
On February 16, Prince Philip was admitted to London's King Edward VII Hospital before being moved to St Bartholomew's Hospital for a pre-existing illness.
On March 16, one month after being hospitalized, he was released and able to return home after undergoing a promising surgery to cure a cardiac disease.
Many royal supporters were worried about the Duke of Edinburgh's welfare since it was the royal's longest-ever stay in hospital.