Prince Philip: Hove MP Peter Kyle shares memory of meeting Duke of Edinburgh as he pays tribute

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh reacts as he talks with Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex as they leave St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, Windsor (Photo by STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

It follows the news His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died today at the age of 99 (April 9).

Prince Philip: Sussex readers share memories of meeting the Duke of Edinburgh

Peter Kyle said: “Losing a husband after such a remarkable long marriage is a terrible blow and I know our whole community will be wishing the Queen well at such a difficult time.

“Prince Philip is the only member of the Royal Family that I’ve had a conversation with. It over about a decade ago and I was asked to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the voluntary sector.

“Towards the end of the event he walked up to the group I was standing with and he jumped straight into an incredibly detailed conversation about the challenges faced by charities at that time. He named charities and sectors and people and asked very detailed questions.

“Then he pointed at my chin and said ‘is that coming or going?’. At the time I had a rather feeble attempt at a beard. It was disarming and the naughty way he said it was genuinely funny, and the laughter brought tears to his eyes. He said farewell and walked alone down a very long corridor and you couldn’t help but notice his shoulders shaking with laughter as he went.

“Along with you and our whole country, I’m wishing her majesty the Queen and her family the very best amidst the sadness of this moment.”