Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and former FEI President, dies age 99

Flags have been lowered to half mast in tribute to Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, the former International Equestrian Federation (FEI) President who has died aged 99.

The traditional bulletin was carried to the gates of Buckingham Palace this morning to announce his passing.

"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," the bulletin read.

"His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute by making reference to a sport which the Prince had helped to develop.

"Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life," Johnson said.

The Prime Minister said he had "inspired the lives of countless young people".

The Prince had returned to Windsor Castle in March after a month in hospital, where he had undergone surgery for a pre-existing heart condition.

He had been born on the Greek island of Corfu in 1921, the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice, but left as an infant and spent his youth in Europe before settling in Britain.

The Prince was greatly inspired by the educationalist Kurt Hahn.

He attended Salem school in Germany and later, when Hahn founded Gordonstoun in Scotland, the Prince followed him there.

Both establishments set great store by personal resilience and outdoor activity.

In 1956, the Prince founded the award scheme which bears his name.

The "Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme" was designed "to equip and empower young people to build the skills, confidence and resilience they need to make the most out of life".

The Prince had been a cadet at the Royal Naval college in Dartmouth and served in the Royal Navy before marrying the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947.

He was an enthusiastic sportsman who played cricket and developed a great friendship with the sailor Uffa Fox, and the pair regularly raced together in the fifties.

Prince Philip was also a keen polo player and equestrian sportsman, serving as FEI President from 1964 to 1986 before being succeeded by his daughter Princess Anne.

He also remained an active participant in four-in-hand driving when it became an FEI discipline in the early 1970s.

The Prince represented Great Britain at six World Championships in the sport and was part of the gold medal winning team in 1980.

He became the only man in modern times to twice serve as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club.

His first term of office came in 1949 and this was followed in 1975, a Presidency which coincided with the first men’s Cricket World Cup.

It fell to him to present the Prudential Cup to West Indies captain Clive Lloyd after the final at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

Prince Philip had been the first member of the Royal Family to attend the Commonwealth Games and in 1955 he became Commonwealth Games Federation President, a role which he held for the next 30 years.

His final public engagement was a sporting one.

In 2017, he opened the new Mound Stand at Lord’s before retiring from public life.

With typical humour, he said: "I am standing down because I can no longer stand up."

By Philip Barker