Prince Philip Officially Died of 'Old Age' 5 Years Ago. Revisit His Final Days
Prince Philip Officially Died of 'Old Age' 5 Years Ago. Revisit His Final Days
Caroline BlairThu, April 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends the wedding of Princess Eugenie on October 12, 2018 in Windsor, England.Credit: Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty -
Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021, just two months before his 100th birthday
The Duke of Edinburgh's cause of death was listed as "old age," and a book later claimed that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eight years prior to his death
Philip's wife, Queen Elizabeth, entered an official two-week mourning period after his death
Prince Philip died five years ago on April 9, 2021.
The late Duke of Edinburgh was 99 years old when he "passed away peacefully" at Windsor Castle. One month later, his cause of death was listed as "old age."
Prior to his death, Philip had struggled with various health issues — including having hip replacement surgery, surviving a car accident and being hospitalized in relation to a "pre-existing condition." Just a few months before his death, Philip was admitted to King Edward VII hospital after "feeling unwell."
Philip, who retired from his public duties in 2017, was married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years. The royal couple shared four children: King Charles, Princess Anne, former Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. He was also survived by his eight grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Here's everything to know about Prince Philip's death, five years after he died.
When did Prince Philip die?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles on July 22, 2020 in Windsor, England.Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021 — just two months before what would have been his 100th birthday on June 10, 2021.
Prince Philip died on King Charles and Queen Camilla's 16th wedding anniversary.
How did Prince Philip die?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends a ceremony to mark the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles on July 22, 2020 in Windsor, England.Credit: Pool/Max Mumby/Getty
Philip died in the morning after reportedly saying that he "did not feel well," according to historian Hugo Vickers in his book, Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History.
"On the last night of his life, he gave his nurses the slip, shuffled along the corridor on his Zimmer frame, helped himself to a beer and drank it in the Oak Room,” Vickers wrote. "The following morning, he got up, had a bath, said he did not feel well, and quietly slipped away."
Vickers claimed that Queen Elizabeth "was not there when he died," because she was misinformed where he was.
"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 palace said in a statement. "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle."
They continued, "The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."
What was Prince Philip's cause of death?
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's (RAuxAF) 603 Squadron on July 4, 2015 in Edinburgh, Scotland.Credit: Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty
About a month after Prince Philip died, his official cause of death was listed as "old age."
Sir Huw Thomas, the head of the royal medical household and the physician to the Queen, signed the certificate. "Old age" is an accepted cause of death if the deceased is over 80 years old and if the physician has treated the patient for awhile.
Vickers alleged in his book that Philip had been privately struggling with pancreatic cancer for "nearly eight years" prior to his death. He wrote that Philip was diagnosed in 2013 and sought treatment in the hospital, but the condition was "inoperable." Philip returned to public duties in August of that year.
“Doctors had detected a shadow on his pancreas, and had cut him right across his stomach,” Vickers wrote. "The verdict was inoperable pancreatic cancer.” PEOPLE reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment on the new claims.
Prior to his death, Philip had been dealing with a myriad of other health issues. In March 2018, he suddenly canceled his appearance at a traditional church service and later the Easter Sunday service. The palace later announced that he had underwent hip replacement surgery.
The following January, Philip was involved in a car accident. He wasn't injured, but it led to him giving up his license. By December 2019, Philip was hospitalized for something related to a "pre-existing condition," the palace said at the time.
In February 2021, he was admitted to the hospital to get "treated for an infection" after he had been "feeling unwell," the palace shared. During this time, Philip underwent a "successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St. Bartholomew's Hospital." He stayed in the hospital for 28 days for "treatment, rest and recuperation." It was his longest known hospital stay.
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How did Queen Elizabeth react to her husband's death?
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during "The Patron's Lunch" on June 12, 2016 in London, England.Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty
Queen Elizabeth honored her "beloved" husband by entering a mourning period — where she refrained from carrying out her public duties — of eight days.
After the eight days, she and her household observed another week of mourning, and she continued wearing mourning clothes for a total of 30 days.
The monarch, who died a year-and-a-half later, allegedly said that Philip's death "left a huge void in her life."
When was his funeral?
Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral for Prince Philip on April 17, 2021Credit: Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Philip was laid to rest in an intimate funeral on April 17, 2021, at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Since his death took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was restricted to just 30 mourners in a royal ceremonial funeral.
Prior to his death, Philip specified his funeral plans and laid out the arrangements, from the music to the custom Land Rover hearse. His funeral upended traditional protocols, but former palace spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE that he would have probably preferred it that way.
"Ironically, it is probably how he would have liked," she told PEOPLE at the time. "No fuss, no bother. Right through his life, he never knew what all the fuss was about."
The people who attended the private gathering included Queen Elizabeth, his four children, eight grandchildren and other close family members and friends. All guests were required to wear face masks.
The private ceremony lasted around one hour and ended with his coffin being lowered into the Royal Vault and a choir singing the National Anthem.
How did his children and grandchildren pay tribute to him?
Prince Philip and Prince William at the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Oct. 31, 2015Credit: Phil Walter/Getty
Several of Prince Philip's children paid tribute to him and have continued to honor his legacy over the years. Notably, when Prince Harry attended his funeral, it marked the first time he had returned to the United Kingdom after stepping back from royal life and moving to the U.S. with his wife, Meghan Markle.
"My grandfather was a man of service, honour and great humour," Harry said in a statement at the time. "He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charm—and also because you never knew what he might say next."
He referred to his grandfather as both a "reigning consort to the Monarch" and a "master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right 'til the end."
"He has been a rock for Her Majesty The Queen with unparalleled devotion, by her side for 73 years of marriage, and while I could go on, I know that right now he would say to all of us, beer in hand, 'Oh do get on with it!' " he continued. "So, on that note, Grandpa, thank you for your service, your dedication to Granny, and for always being yourself. You will be sorely missed, but always remembered—by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts."
In a separate statement, Prince William also paid tribute to his grandfather and wrote in part, "I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage."
"My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation," he continued. "Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead. I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job."
All of the Prince and Queen's four children also released statements and described him as a "dear Papa," who "was a very special person," a "teacher," an "extraordinary" person and a "remarkable man."
How did the public react to Prince Philip's death?
A tribute for Prince Philip outside Buckingham Palace on April 09, 2021 in London, United Kingdom.Credit: David Cliff/Anadolu Agency via Getty
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the palace released an online Book of Condolence via their website for mourners to leave messages, while advising people to grieve online or in their own homes rather than in large public groups.
"During this time the Royal Family ask that members of the public consider making a donation to a charity instead of leaving floral tributes in memory of The Duke of Edinburgh," the palace said.
However, the palace still maintained a few traditions — including lowering some flags to half-mast across the country during the period of mourning. The Royal Standard continued to fly at Windsor Castle to symbolize Queen Elizabeth "in residence."
Members of Parliament also dressed in mourning black ties and black armbands and took an eight-day hiatus from passing laws during the mourning period.
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