What a wonderful man Prince Philip was

[AllThatIAmRoom101]

He really was a remarkable man and what a sad day it's been watching the funeral. Hearing all the stories about his life, I have laughed, cried and been somewhere in between. I know it's not really a discussion topic but I wanted to show my respect to His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. GOD BLESS YOU SIR

Yes he was rude and racist but that needs to be judged with the standards of his generation.

My grandfather and grandmother were born just before and just after him respectively. I never once heard a racist word come out of their mouths. If they had any racists thoughts that were if their time, they long moved past it. Homophobia as well. Maybe they were unusual people, but Philip was being unacceptably racist well beyond an era that was considered 'acceptable'.

Considering how conditioned the Royals are for the public, it seems he simply didn't care for holding back these 'jokes' even when they evidently painted him and the Royals in a bad/backwards manner.

You can't help the family you are born into re wealth & privilege.
I found him an interesting individual, he was a great horseman.

and has been part of most of our lives for as long as we can remember

I am in my 6th decade and he has been absolutely no part of my life in any way, shape or form. Nothing. Zilch. Never been on my radar. Apart from maybe eating up a small amount of the tax I've been paying for my entire working life.

Not much, granted. But he got more from my family than we've had from his. It's sad when anybody dies. I respect that. I'm sad for his wife and children, of course. I am. Any funeral reminds me of losing my parents and sibling at comparably early ages. 68, 70 and 63.

None of them would have died so young if they'd had intensive and unlimited healthcare. Dad died because ambulance took 4 hours to attend his heart attack. Mother died because she lived in a damp prefab which exacerbated her asthma. Brother died from lack of local MH services. (self-inflicted)

So no, a man who lived to 99 with every luxury money can buy did not figure largely in any of our daily struggles.

as you will probably be extremely disappointed by the majority who simply do not care beyond basic condolences

I just said that upthread, but hats off. You said it in fewer words.
I'm going to have to practice brevity.

@MasterBeth

A man who was born into and who lived through a life of extraordinary privilege. Went to war, like millions of his generation. Was a terrible racist, like many of his generation. Stayed with his wife until his death, like many of his generation.

He was a man who lived a remarkable life. That’s not the same as being a remarkable man.

I honestly think some people live in a different planet or they just don't think

I agree OP. I really felt for the Queen today.

I'd like to think of all those who have benefited from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme over the years, in many countries

It was someone else's idea...they approached him to be the figurehead. It's been executed by teachers and charity workers countrywide..

So basically, he just agreed to put his name to it.

yomommasmomma

I honestly think some people live in a different planet or they just don't think

IMO people are more interested in 'their truth' than the actual truth.

It wouldn't hurt for some posters to do some research before they post.

My only ‘gratitude’ to him was the months of fun I had doing my DOE Bronze award in 1978. It was fabulous. Some of my best memories of being a young teen, especially our weekend away for our Expedition, I’m mid 50s now and me and an old school friend still reminisce about thise days.

@PredominantlyPurple

I'd like to think of all those who have benefited from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme over the years, in many countries

It was someone else's idea...they approached him to be the figurehead. It's been executed by teachers and charity workers countrywide..

So basically, he just agreed to put his name to it.

Not really

What is 'ballastics'? Isn't it 'ballistics'?

Yes he was rude and racist but that needs to be judged with the standards of his generation.

Ridiculous. As another poster said as well, my grandparents were born the same year and they were neither rude nor racist. They were funny and smart and hard working. My grandpa went to war as a Canadian and came back with a life long injury. He worked blue collar jobs and saved money to leave ensure his only daughter would never have to worry in her retirement. I had a moment of silence today for my grandparents, who actually were wonderful people.

Yes he was rude and racist but that needs to be judged with the standards of his generation

My dm was born 2 years before him. She supported Women’s Lib, was absolutely not racist or homophobic. Her attitude was ‘live and let live’ She went to Greenham Common.

She was of his generation too.

What did he do for the DoE award other than lend his name and divert tax payer money to it?

can't be easy grieving in front of the whole world and losing a partner of 73 years is very hard despite your privilege

Agree wholeheartedly. I have no time for the Royal Family at all.
All my life I've viewed them as a bunch of parasites and that's what they are. I've experienced loads of family health situations which could have been helped by an injection of hard cash. Something the Royals take entirely for granted. You need immediate medical help? Here it is within 4 minutes.

But on a human level, of course I feel for their loss. My Dad would be alive now if he hadn't had to wait 4 hours for an ambulance when he had a heart attack.

The Duke of E had his medical consultant on speed dial. And in the latter stages probably had 24 hour attendance. My dad served as a sergeant in ww2. Lost an eye in an explosion. and the use of his right hand. But when he had a heart attack in 1979 and could have been saved. . . . . . .
No ambulance available for 4 hours.

We know he could have been saved by an injection of a clotbusting drug. The hospital even told us that. Had he been there a couple hours earlier, he could have lived another 30 years. He didn't drink and he didn't smoke. So whilst I am moved by their loss, on a human level, I'm also pissed off that my own family never had that chance. My father fought in the war and was decorated for bravery.

I so wish that my father had all the on tap medical assistance that the Duke of Edinburgh had. He might have been able to meet my children instead of dying when he was 68.

31 years short of Philips's lifespan. And all because the ambulance took too long.

@PredominantlyPurple

and has been part of most of our lives for as long as we can remember

I am in my 6th decade and he has been absolutely no part of my life in any way, shape or form. Nothing. Zilch. Never been on my radar. Apart from maybe eating up a small amount of the tax I've been paying for my entire working life.

Not much, granted. But he got more from my family than we've had from his. It's sad when anybody dies. I respect that. I'm sad for his wife and children, of course. I am. Any funeral reminds me of losing my parents and sibling at comparably early ages. 68, 70 and 63.

None of them would have died so young if they'd had intensive and unlimited healthcare. Dad died because ambulance took 4 hours to attend his heart attack. Mother died because she lived in a damp prefab which exacerbated her asthma. Brother died from lack of local MH services. (self-inflicted)

So no, a man who lived to 99 with every luxury money can buy did not figure largely in any of our daily struggles.

Well put.

I agree

@AllThatIAmRoom101 why did my post get deleted?

So being born into Royalty with excellent contacts isn't being born into privelege? Ok his life didn't get off to the greatest start because of tragedies etc but he was never going to end up on the breadline and living on benefits in a council estate.

^^
A tragic childhood is still a tragic childhood regardless of financial situation. Personally I’d rather be well loved and cared for by my parents while living on the breadline then have a rich yet distraught nomadic childhood.

[quote Maddison12]@AllThatIAmRoom101 why did my post get deleted?[/quote]
??

@LaceyBetty

Yes he was rude and racist but that needs to be judged with the standards of his generation.

Ridiculous. As another poster said as well, my grandparents were born the same year and they were neither rude nor racist. They were funny and smart and hard working. My grandpa went to war as a Canadian and came back with a life long injury. He worked blue collar jobs and saved money to leave ensure his only daughter would never have to worry in her retirement. I had a moment of silence today for my grandparents, who actually were wonderful people.

Im not saying it was acceptable but it cannot be denied that scientific racism was still a thing during his earlier years. Now discredited 'science' was used to prove and justify the mistreatment and exploitation of non-white races. This was deeply entrenched in British society and it is only recently that 'ignorant racism' has become completely socially unacceptable. This is the epitome of white privilege. There is also a deeply entrenched sense of 'betterism' amongst people of his class with even today this being taught in Eton etal. Nethertheless today shouldn't be about the wrongs. As a consort he has done his duty to Queen and Country and is obviously a much loved family member, today is not the day to rake the coal.

I don't remember MN being as nasty as today. Absolutely horrible