Buckingham Palace confirm Prince Philip is to step down from royal duties

The Duke of Edinburgh turns 96 next month.

Buckingham Palace have confirmed that the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, will retire from his royal duties later this year. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news this morning after the royal household were summoned to an emergency meeting at the palace, a meeting which prompted much speculation on Thursday morning. A statement released by Buckingham Palace on Thursday morning read: His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, The Duke has the full support of The Queen. “Prince Philip will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August, both individually and accompanying the Queen. Thereafter, The duke will not be accepting new invitations for visits and engagements, although he may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time. “The Duke of Edinburgh is patron, president or a member of over 780 organisations, with which he will continue to be associated, although he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements.”