Prince Philip has died at the the age of 99.
Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming the news at midday, which said: “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.
“His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. Further announcements will be made in due course. Visit www.royal.uk to read the announcement in full.”
The longest serving British consort, he was born 10 June 1921 in Mon Repos, Corfu in Greece.
In 1934, he met the future Queen Elizabeth II when she was just eight and he was 13. They later married on the 20 November 1947 in Westminster Abbey, with Elizabeth ascending the throne on 6 February 1952.
The Duke had links to the Moray area, famously attending Gordonstoun school from 1934 to 1939, his three sons followed.
Gordonstoun founder Dr Kurt Hahn created the Moray Badge, a learning scheme extended outside the school to other local children.
Philip acquired the badge while at Gordonstoun, and it was such a success locally, that Hahn wanted to expand it across the country. He consulted with the Prince, and it became the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956, which operates in 140 countries, helping millions of young people to build confidence, character and friendships.
He visited RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss in 2014 with the Queen as part of their 67th anniversary tour, with the last Nimrod from RAF Kinloss named after him.
This aircraft, XV244, was purchased by Morayvia in Kinloss and the Duke had granted that his name and the heraldic standard be displayed on it.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “The country has lost a tremendous public servant who has been at the Queen’s side for more than seven decades.
“Prince Philip had strong ties to Moray and to Gordonstoun. The school played a big part in his early life and indeed the Duke of Edinburgh award was inspired by the Moray Badge he had worked for as a pupil.
“My heartfelt condolences, and I am sure those of people across Moray, are with Her Majesty and the whole of the Royal Family as they mourn the loss of a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.”
Convener of Moray Council, Cllr Shona Morrison, added: “It was with immense sadness that Moray Council learnt of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.”The Duke was a regular visitor to Moray, having been among the first pupils to attend Gordonstoun, and maintained a lifelong association with the area.”
HRH, Prince Philip was also the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Kinloss and visited regularly when he was fitter.