Prince Philip made gut-wrenching confession before his death as Queen 'refused to leave his side'
Prince Philip passed away just two months before his 100th birthdayPrince Philip’s death was announced on April 9, 2021, with Buckingham Palace announcing the former Duke of Edinburgh died peacefully in his sleep.
June 10, 2025 marks what would have been Philip’s 104th birthday.
According to a friend of the The Firm, Prince Philip – who was aged 99 at the time of his death – wasn’t afraid of dying.
They also claimed the Queen didn’t want to leave his side in the weeks leading up to him passing away.
What was Prince Philip’s cause of death?
Prince Philip’s official cause of death was stated as “old age” on his death certificate, which was certified by the head of the Royal Medical Household, Sir Huw Thomas.
He had previously spent time in hospital in the months leading up to his passing, but was at home at Windsor Castle at the time of his death.
The Duke was first admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital on February 16, 2021, before he was transferred to St Batholomew’s Hospital two weeks later. The royal underwent a procedure related to a pre-existing heart condition before he was moved back to King Edward’s.
He spent 28 nights in hospital, which became his longest-ever stay, and although it took place during the pandemic, it was not related to Covid-19.
The then Prince of Wales, Charles, visited his father when he was in hospital and made a 200-mile trip to see him. Philip was discharged on March 16.
The Duke had suffered from heart problems previously, being rushed to hospital in December 2011 after experiencing chest pains, days before Christmas. Doctors performed a procedure to help clear a blocked coronary artery and it meant he missed the first Christmas morning service Sandringham. He was 90 years old at the time.
Prince Philip was ‘ready to die’
Gyles Brandreth, family friend of the royals, claimed Prince Philip told him he was ‘ready’ before his death.
He reported the royal said: “Death is part of life. You’ve got to face it. You’ve got to accept it – with a good grace.
“When you get to my age, there’s a lot of it about.”
Philip is said to have added: “I’m quite ready to die. It’s what happens – sooner or later. I certainly don’t want to hang on until I am 100, like Queen Elizabeth [the Queen Mother]. I can’t imagine anything worse.”
He quipped:”I have absolutely no desire to cling on to life unnecessarily. Ghastly prospect.”
Read more: The real reason why Queen will never reveal what’s in Prince Philip’s secret will
It was so ‘gentle’
Sophie, the now Duchess of Edinburgh, said days later that it was “very peaceful”.
She said: “It was right for him and, you know, it was so gentle.
“It was like someone took him by the hand, and then he went.
“Very, very peaceful and that’s all you want for somebody, isn’t it?”
She added: “So I think it is so much easier for the person that goes than the people who are left behind. We are all sitting here looking at each other going ‘this is awful’.
“But equally, look at all the tributes. It’s just amazing.”
How long did the Queen live after Prince Philip died?
Prince Philip died in April 2021 and Queen Elizabeth II passed way in September 2022, meaning the monarch lived for one year and five months without her husband before her death.
Philip’s funeral took place the weekend after his death, and it’s believed the Queen spoke to grandson Prince William about the arrangements.
Prince Harry, who had moved to America with wife Meghan Markle and son Archie, flew back to the UK to attend the funeral.
Sadly, as it took place during lockdown restrictions, there were only 30 mourners allowed to attend the service at St George’s Chapel.
It was broadcast on television and the world came together to mourn the Duke of Edinburgh, who had stood at the Queen’s side for 73 years.
Read more: Moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sparked fury at Prince Philip’s funeral
Queen at his ‘bedside’
Reports claimed the late Queen was at Prince Philip’s bedside at the time of his death. He was in his private apartment in Windsor Castle and spent his final days looking after himself after refusing to go back to hospital.
He died only two months before his 100th birthday.
The longest-serving consort in British history spent his last days with his wife, the Queen, who was 94 at the time. Sources told The Telegraph he wanted to stay at home.
They said: “He spent most of the four weeks he was in hospital trying to get home. 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. He just wanted to be back in his own bed.
“There is no way he would have wanted to die in hospital.”
Thankfully, his four children – Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward – were able to see him separately as they had received the coronavirus vaccine. However, Prince William’s children were unable to visit as they hadn’t received the vaccination.
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