The royal family has shared a special tribute to King Charles’ late father, Prince Philip, fives years on from his passing in 2021.
The heartwarming photo of Charles and his late father from 55 years ago was posted to Instagram on Sunday morning to mark Father’s Day in the UK. “Celebrating all Fathers, and thinking of those who wish they could be with their Dads, today,” the official royal family account captioned the image, which was taken in August 1971 when Charles, then the Prince of Wales, received his pilot’s wings at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
Philip, who was the Duke of Edinburgh and Marshal of the Royal Air Force, beamed proudly next to his son. Philip and Charles, who were 50 and 22 respectively at the time, looked smart in their matching Royal Air Force uniforms, which featured a belted tunic with the wings brooch.
As the more senior in rank, Philip, who was awarded his wings in 1953, had an aiguillette and medals adorning his jacket.
A ‘happy’ final conversation
Philip passed away in April 2021 at age 99, two months before what would have been his 100th birthday. Shortly after his father’s death, Charles, who is the eldest child of Philip and the late Queen Elizabeth II, opened up about their final conversation together in a BBC documentary titled Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, recalling they had discussed birthday plans.
“I was talking to him the day before he died, we were talking about his birthday coming up,” Charles said.
“I said (speaks loudly), ‘We’re talking about your birthday,’ because he was getting a bit deaf. And he said, ‘What?’ And I said, ‘We’re talking about your birthday and whether there’s going to be a reception.'”
Laughing, Charles went on: “And he said, ‘Well I’ve got to be alive for it, haven’t I?'” After a pause, Charles added: “I said, ‘I knew you’d say that!’ Anyway, it’s a happy memory.”
Prince William’s unseen Father’s Day photo
Father’s Day this year, which takes place annually on the third Sunday of June, coincided with Charles’ son Prince William’s 44th birthday. To celebrate the double occasion, Kensington Palace released an unseen photograph of William and his daughter, Princess Charlotte, 11.
The Prince of Wales was beaming as he had his arm around his daughter in a side hug in a photo taken in the Kensington Palace gardens after Trooping the Colour on 13 June.
“Happy birthday and Father’s Day to the best Papa in the World! We love you very much. C, G, C & L [pink hearts],” the post was captioned and signed with the initials of the Princess of Wales, Prince George, 12, Charlotte, and Prince Louis, eight.
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