Prince Philip shaped the lives of his grandchildren – starting with William and Harry

Of Prince Philip’s eight grandchildren, one will now receive particular attention. Prince Harry will be desperate to come back to Britain for his beloved grandfather’s funeral.

In all the bombshell revelations of the Sussexes’ interview with Oprah Winfrey last month, his devotion to his grandparents was clear.

“I’ve never blindsided my grandmother. I have too much respect for her,” Harry insisted. The Duchess added that, when she heard about the Duke of Edinburgh’s illness, “I just picked up the phone and I called the Queen just to check in.”

Amid the subsequent furore over the couple’s claim that the colour of their son’s skin tone had been discussed by members of the family, Harry also acted in his grandparent’s defence. “He wanted to make sure I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother or grandfather that were part of those conversations," Winfrey later revealed.

That interview showed, then, what a central figure Prince Philip was in his grandson’s life, even thousands of miles away in Los Angeles.

Indeed, of all the royal roles he has now relinquished for his new life in California, the one closest to his heart was as the Captain General Royal Marines – the ceremonial head of the Royal Marines. Prince Philip was Captain for an astonishing 64 years from 1953 to 2017, before relinquishing the role for Harry, who lasted just over three years.

As well as being a grandfather to the nation, the Duke of Edinburgh was a deeply attentive grandfather to his grandchildren – whatever their difficulties and however badly their parents’ marriages fared. The latest evidence of that mutual grandparental affection came only this year. In March, Zara Phillips named her newborn Lucas Philip Tindall. While in February, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank called their son August Philip Hawke Brooksbank after their treasured grandfather.

Prince Philip may have cut off relations with Sarah Ferguson, believing she caused embarrassment to the Royal Family. But that didn’t stop him nurturing a strong bond with her daughters. At Princess Beatrice’s pandemic-restricted wedding in Windsor last year, it was he and the Queen who were photographed, beaming, next to Beatrice and her new husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – rather than Fergie or Prince Andrew.

But it was after Diana’s death in 1997 that was perhaps the most visible instance of how seriously Prince Philip took his role as grandfather. At the time, William and Harry were staying at Balmoral. While Charles flew to Paris, it was Prince Philip and the Queen who looked after the boys – and Philip who guided his grandchildren through the funeral, persuading William to walk behind his mother’s coffin.

"Prince Philip weighed into the argument and eventually William agreed to take part – but only on the condition that his grandfather walked beside him,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward has said. “William wanted his grandfather at his side in what was certain to prove the most harrowing public engagement the young man had had to endure."

But while he could be a rock when required, the Duke’s grandchildren also enjoyed teasing him for his comedy brusqueness – his famed grumpiness, as I found when I met him at a Gallipoli Association lunch in 2015, being something of an act to diffuse any deference.

In Prince Harry’s interview with James Corden in February, he described how his grandfather conducted video calls. “Both my grandparents Zoom,” he said. “We’ve Zoomed them a few times. They’ve seen Archie running around. My grandfather, instead of, like, pressing ‘leave meeting’, he just goes doof,” Harry laughed, imitating Prince Philip slamming down the laptop lid. “I’m like, OK, bye!”

It displayed the easy affection with which Harry regarded his grandfather – who both he and William saw regularly as students at Eton, with the Queen and Prince Philip just across the Thames, at Windsor Castle.

In more recent years, Prince Edward’s children, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor have similarly seen a lot of Prince Philip and the Queen – their home, Bagshot Park, is only 11 miles from Windsor. Only this week, Lady Louise was seen riding there.

This love of the outdoors was also encouraged during stays at Balmoral, where Prince Philip would welcome his young grandchildren each summer. There, they were free to fish and stalk on royal land, far from the press.

A favourite feature was the Balmoral barbecue. With his characteristic interest in design and engineering, Philip had designed his very own barbecue, capable of grilling a groaning lunch for all his grandchildren.

During the winter shooting season, Sandringham in turn became a popular place for Prince Philip to host the younger members of the family, who often took part in the shoot.

From his oldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, 43, to his youngest, Viscount Severn, 13, Prince Philip has played an instrumental role in all their lives. How deeply they will all miss their beloved grandfather now.

Harry Mount is author of How England Made the English Penguin