Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip in the Netflix hit The Crown, has shared his condolences with The Royal Family. It comes as His Royal Highness Prince Philip died on Friday, aged 99.
The Queen’s husband was the longest-serving consort to a monarch in history following his wedding to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947.
Speaking exclusively to express.co.uk, a statement on behalf of Matt read: “I’d like to offer my condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family.
“Prince Philip was the man. And he knew it. 99 and out, but what an innings. And what style.
“Thank you for your service old chap – it won’t be the same without you.”
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“Thank you for your service old chap – it won’t be the same without you.”
Matt portrayed the young Duke in twenty episodes of the Netflix hit, The Crown, between 2016 and 2017, documenting his transition from Philip Mountbatten to The Duke of Edinburgh.
Following the heartbreaking news, official social media accounts and websites for the Royal Family turned to black as the country entered an eight-day period of mourning.
The Duke, born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark had been residing at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, with Her Majesty The Queen at the time of his death.
Tobias Menzies, who played the Duke in seasons three and four of The Crown added to express.co.uk: “If I know anything about the Duke of Edinburgh I’m fairly sure he wouldn’t want an actor who has portrayed him on television giving their opinion on his life, so I’ll leave it to Shakespeare.
‘O good old man! how well in thee appears the constant service of the antique world…’
“Rest in Peace.”
In light of Prince Philip’s death, ITV and the BBC have pulled popular programmes such as EastEnders and Coronation Street from their scheduling, with the soaps expected to return on Monday.
Prince Philip had retired from public duty in August 2017 after completing over 22,000 solo engagements since becoming consort in 1952, when Princess Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II.
His last official duty saw him meet the Royal Marines on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in torrential rain, yet the Duke remained in high spirits and put his duty first.
Prince Philip was last seen in public just weeks before his death while being discharged from King Edward VII’s Hospital in London after undergoing a successful heart procedure.
During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, The Duke relocated from his home on the Sandringham estate to be alongside his 94-year-old wife at Windsor Castle, where the pair received their first dosage of the coronavirus vaccination.
Prince Philip is survived by his wife, Queen Elizabeth, as well as children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
He leaves behind grandchildren, Princes William and Harry, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The Duke is also survived by great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Archie Harrison, Isla and Savannah Phillips, Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall.
