Published: Friday, 9th April 2021

It is with great sadness that we receive the news of the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who has died at the age of 99.

He was made Baron Greenwich of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 1947, which is just one of his many connections to the borough. 

Prince Philip began his naval career in 1939 as a cadet and eventually attended the Royal Naval Staff College at Greenwich for training in 1948. 

He was appointed a trustee of the National Maritime Museum in 1948 and has opened or visited countless projects at Royal Museums Greenwich. 

A keen naval historian, he was instrumental in bringing the Cutty Sark to Greenwich in 1954 and served as the president of the Cutty Sark Trust. 

The Duke was also heavily involved in facilitating renovation works to the Cutty Sark, after it was almost destroyed by a fire in 2007. 

Prince Philip played a central role to Greenwich becoming a Royal Borough on 3 February 2012. 

In 2012, he was awarded the Freedom of the Royal Borough of Greenwich for rendering eminent services to the borough – this is the highest award the Council can give and is an honour bestowed on very few people.  

At a special council meeting held on 12 March 2012, Prince Philip was awarded the Honorary Freedom, in recognition of his special relationship with the borough as Baron Greenwich, his work on behalf of the Cutty Sark Trust and as an expression of the high regard in which he is held by Members of the Council and fellow citizens. 

An esteemed consort to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip held numerous titles and honorary appointments and is estimated to have made more than 22,000 solo appearances over the years – on many occasions these appearances brought him right here to Royal Greenwich. 

It has been an honour to have Prince Philip serve as Baron Greenwich and we are forever grateful for his dedication to the borough. 

HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Baron Greenwich, born 10 June 1921; died peacefully at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021.