Prince Philip to step down from carrying out royal engagements

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

The Duke of Edinburgh is retiring from royal duties this autumn, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The decision was made by Prince Philip himself and is supported by the Queen, a palace spokesman said.

He will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August but will not accept new invitations.

The prince - who turns 96 next month - is patron, president or a member of more than 780 organisations and will continue to be associated with them.


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39802636

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Just to clear up what has been speculated on. "Man retires completely at 96".

[JI7]

1. does this mean he can avoid Trump ?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I think he'd get to do the minimum possible with Trump

I would think he'll still turn up as spouse at official banquets, but he won't be expected to do things like accompany visiting heads of state as they inspect an honour guard.

[OnDoutside]

14. One would have thought he'd be glad to meet Trump

[Judi Lynn]

3. Thanks for the actual information. Admirable he kept at it so long! n/t

[tenorly]

20. It is. But he had a pronounced dark side too.

He famously told Deutsche Press Agentur in 1988 that "in the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to solve overpopulation."

And this was no youthful indiscretion. He was 67 at the time, and had been in the public spotlight for 41 years.

Some (even here on DU) have always tried to rationalize it as a "gaffe" or a joke; but considering that whenever he's given his opinion on social issues, they've repeatedly been of the intolerant, anti-social kind - and that he voluntarily spent part of his teen years in Nazi Germany and all four of his sisters married Nazis - it's safe to say that he was showing his true colors.

[JawJaw]

4. Odd time to announce this...

It's not happening until September, so why announce it now, in the middle of the General Election?

The Queen would normally be VERY mindful of the timing of such events, so as not to appear to influence politics.

Distraction from something big?

[jberryhill]

5. He doesn't want to meet Trump

[duncang]

6. With the problems he has been having with memory, etc

I don't think a distraction. He has a lot of events he will be going to lined up through August. The Royal family is very strict on protocol and commitments. So not really a surprise that he would continue as long as he can.

[Honeycombe8]

10. +1. nt

[George II]

12. Prince Phillip or trump?

[duncang]

13. Dipshit donnie wouldn't care about commitments

Except to his pocket book.

[yardwork]

7. He's giving several months notice.

Events are planned months and even years in advance.

[demigoddess]

18. so when he refuses invitations they will know the reason and not be insulted

this way they will not extend those invitations to him but to others instead. It is called politeness.

[obamanut2012]

8. It is past time for this

He has been a public bigoted hot mess for decades.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. I'm sure the Balmoral staff were thrilled.

"We came all the way from fooking Scotland to hear that the prince is an old fart? Some news."

[George II]

11. If only we were as spry as him at 96, or even NOT as spry at 96, but just 96!!

[rug]

15. I hope he can get by on his pension.

[YOHABLO]

16. Does this announcement really deserve this amount of international gravity.

He's 96 and we get it. CNN breaking news last night says the Royal Family have been summoned to Buckingham Castle for an important issue. I thought someone had died.

[canetoad]

17. It wouldn't have received

This amount of international gravity if the Daily Mail had not blown an effin' staff meeting out of all proportion.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. It's the "has someone died" rumours that made it into news

They didn't announce that - it leaked in the middle of the night.

[JackRiddler]

21. I heard there was panic over old paternity test results.

Ha!

Here's to the distant day when the feudal bullshit ends, not in a guillotine, but with a decent pension and a council flat for each and every member of the family. Also, free transition counseling.