Princess Anne shares touching tribute to her father – ‘You are never really ready’

Following the death of her dad, Prince Philip, who died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday, Princess Anne has posted a touching message (9th April).

On Sunday, the Princess Royal paid homage on the Royal Family's official Instagram page (11th April).

“You know it's going to happen but you are never really ready,” she wrote in response to the Duke of Edinburgh's death. “My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate.”

Anne is the Queen and Prince Philip's only daughter, and her touching comment shows their clearly unique father-daughter relationship.

“You know it's going to happen but you are never really ready. My father has been my teacher, my supporter and my critic, but mostly it is his example of a life well lived and service freely given that I most wanted to emulate.

“His ability to treat every person as an individual in their own right with their own skills comes through all the organisations with which he was involved. I regard it as an honour and a privilege to have been asked to follow in his footsteps and it has been a pleasure to have kept him in touch with their activities. I know how much he meant to them, in the UK, across the Commonwealth and in the wider world.

“I would like to emphasise how much the family appreciate the messages and memories of so many people whose lives he also touched. We will miss him but he leaves a legacy which can inspire us all,” her statement concluded .

On Saturday, April 17, Prince Philip, who died on Friday at the age of 99, will be given a Ceremonial Royal Funeral at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Since the royals would adhere to COVID-related health and safety regulations for the memorial, only 30 guests can be present at the private funeral.

Anne's message comes after her eldest brother, Prince Charles also paid tribute to their father.

Read Prince Charles's full statement below.

I particularly wanted to say that 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, but also to the whole of the Commonwealth.

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 would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow.

My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you.