Monarchy New Zealand today expresses its sadness at the passing of Queen of New Zealand’s consort, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip
Prince Philip died aged 99.
Prince Philip is the longest-serving consort in New Zealand’s history. He has worked to support Elizabeth II in her role as Queen since she came to the throne of New Zealand 69 years ago. In that time, he has travelled throughout Aotearoa on at least 15 occasions, visiting countless cities and towns.
“His constant and unwavering support of the Queen over the years has been widely acknowledged,” says Dr Sean Palmer, Chair of Monarchy New Zealand.
“But he also made a significant contribution in his own right, through his charity work and involvement in many worthwhile causes.”
Among these are numerous military posts, patronages and honours associated with New Zealand.
Prince Philip dedicated his whole life to charitable causes. He was patron or president of more than 800 charities. Among these, he was patron of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and was a life member of the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand. He was an Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Engineers, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Veteran’s Association of New Zealand, and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He held the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association’s highest honour, its Badge in Gold and Life Membership. Of the 75 prizes, cups, and medals associated with him, the most famous in New Zealand was the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Awards.
In New Zealand he was the senior-most officer in all three branches of the Defence Force. He was Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Field Marshal of the New Zealand Army. He was known to take all of these roles very seriously.
He was appointed to the Order of New Zealand in the Queen’s Birthday & Diamond Jubilee Honours List in 2013 for his services to New Zealand. Prince Philip was made an Extra Companion of the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) in 1981, and received the 1990 New Zealand Commemorative Medal.
“On behalf of Monarchy New Zealand, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Queen and the Royal family.”
For more information please contact:
Brian Anderton
Communications Officer
e.Brian.Anderton@monarchy.org.nz
c.021 026 35538
About Monarchy New Zealand:
Monarchy New Zealand is a national, non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote and support the constitutional monarchy of New Zealand.
Monarchy New Zealand’s aims and principles include:
- To bring together New Zealanders of diverse backgrounds to celebrate and support the Monarchy of New Zealand.
- To promote, and engage in, the study of the Monarchy, and the roles of the Crown in the New Zealand system of democratic government.
- To inform the New Zealand public of the contemporary importance of the Monarchy for the New Zealand identity.
HRH The Prince Philip in New Zealand:
| 1. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 23 December 1953 – 30 January 1954 | The Queen’s arrival in 1953 was the first time a reigning monarch of New Zealand had set foot in this country. The Queen delivered her Christmas message from Government House, Auckland. The Tangiwai Railway Disaster occurred during this visit and Prince Philip attended the memorial service. The Queen and Prince Phillip passed through 46 towns and cities from the Far North to Bluff. |
| 2. Prince Philip 11 – 17 December 1956 | After opening the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Prince Philip returned to New Zealand. The Chatham Islands were included in the itinerary and Prince Philip is the only member of the Royal Family to have visited them. |
| 3. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 6 – 18 February 1963 | Queen Elizabeth II National Arts Council established as New Zealand’s gift to the Queen. This is the first time that a sovereign of New Zealand had been in the country on Waitangi Day. |
| 4. Prince Philip 20 – 24 May 1968 | |
| 5. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Anne 12 – 30 March 1970 | Arrived for the Bicentenary of Captain Cook’s landing. This was Princess Anne’s first time in New Zealand. Many towns and cities on both islands were visited. Wellington. Picton. Ship Cove. Christchurch. Hokitika. Greymouth. Timaru. Dunedin. Invercargill. Queenstown. New Plymouth. Palmerston North. Napier. Gisborne. Tauranga. Mercury Bay. Auckland. Hamilton. Bay of Islands. |
| 6. Prince Philip 10 – 14 October 1973 | Prince Philip travelled to New Zealand to attend the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth as President of that society. |
| 7. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Mark Phillips Progressively from 22 January 1974 – February 1974 | Prince Philip opened the Commonwealth Games on 24 January 1974. The Queen closed the Games on 2 February 1974. Lyttelton. Christchurch. Wanaka. Oamaru. Wellington. Rangiora. Masterton. Nelson. Rotorua. Whangarei. Bay of Islands. Whangarei. New Plymouth. Waitangi. Auckland. Hamilton. Ngaruawahia. |
| 8. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 22 February 1977 – 7 March 1977 | This special Commonwealth tour celebrated the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Auckland. Whangarei. Hamilton. Tauranga. Rotorua. Napier. Hastings. New Plymouth. Taupo. Gisborne. Palmerston North. Wellington. Blenheim. Mosgiel. Dunedin. Invercargill. Queenstown. Timaru. Hokitika. Christchurch. |
| 9. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 12 – 20 October 1981 | This visit followed the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Melbourne. Lyttelton. Christchurch. Ashburton. Dunedin. Wellington. Auckland. Kaikohe. Hamilton |
| 10. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 22 February 1986 – 2 March 1986 | Among the engagements undertaken during this tour, the Queen marked the centennial of the New Zealand Police. Auckland. Napier. Hastings. Wellington. Nelson. Christchurch. Lyttleton. |
| 11. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 1 – 16 February 1990 | The Queen attended commemorations on the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February. She also closed the Commonwealth Games. Auckland. Taupo. Cambridge. Otorohanga. Bay of Islands. Waiora. Wellington. Invercargill. Stewart Island. Milford Sound. Franz Josef. Bruce Bay. Wanaka. Queenstown. Palmerston North. Marlborough. Christchurch. |
| 12. Prince Philip 26 February 1992 – 2 March 1992 | Prince Philip undertook some activities for the World Wildlife Fund and for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. |
| 13. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 1 – 10 November 1995 | Prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Auckland, the Queen and Prince Philip undertook a seven-day nationwide tour. Auckland Taupo. Rotorua. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. |
| 14. Prince Philip 31 October – 6 November 1997 | The principal purpose of this trip was to have Prince Philip attend the Duke of Edinburgh Award International Forum in Wellington. |
| 15. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip 22 – 27 February 2002 | The Queen travelled to New Zealand as part of her Golden Jubilee tour of the Commonwealth Realms. In Christchurch, the Queen and Prince Philip received a Ngai Tahu welcome and visited Burnham Military Camp. In Auckland, visits were made to the America’s Cup Team New Zealand and the Liggins Institute. The itinerary included elements from a trip that had been planned for October 2001 which had been postponed due to the terrorist attacks carried out in the United States of America in September 2001. Taupo. Christchurch. Wellington. Auckland. |